MANILA, Philippines?Former president Joseph Estrada has tied Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar for second place in the latest survey on voter preferences and he is pleased.

Estrada had been lagging behind Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno Aquino III and Villar since the official start of the campaign in February, and his camp believes this is a good time to be at No. 2.

Spokeswoman Margaux Salcedo said Estrada?s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino will spend the remaining days of the campaign showing that the LP?s promise of change is empty without an experienced executive like her boss, who was ousted from power in 2001, convicted of plunder afterwards and subsequently pardoned by President Macapagal-Arroyo.

?As I told you, I will give them the surprise of their lives,? Estrada said in a telephone interview, recalling previous interviews in which he said he expected to peak in the surveys in the run-up to the elections and win come May 10.

Estrada answered in the affirmative when asked if the game was now between him and Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Aquino III, the consistent survey leader.

?Ah, yeah. Even my running mate, it?s no longer Mar-Loren (LP vice presidential bet Sen. Manuel Roxas II versus NP vice presidential candidate Sen. Loren Legarda). It?s already Mar versus (PMP candidate Makati) Mayor (Jejomar) Binay,? Estrada said.

?Eighty percent of our voters belong to the D and E (economic classes). It has been proven that they are loyal to me. They are just quiet,? Estrada said.

He said these voters don?t usually submit themselves to survey interviews.

Estrada said his wife, Dr. Loi Ejercito ,won the senatorial elections in 2001 despite placing No. 18 in the surveys.

?How come she won?? Estrada said.

The Inquirer caught up with the Estrada on his mobile phone just before his plane took off for Davao City for two scheduled campaign rallies in Barangay Bukana, Davao City and in Tagum town in Davao Del Sur.

In the remaining days of the campaign, Estrada will focus on showing voters that he would make a better leader than Aquino, Salcedo said.

?In the next few days, we hope to establish that the change that Liberal Party proposes is empty without a leader with proven competence, political will and commitment to the masses,? she said. ?And this is why the people should vote Erap.?

Salcedo said the survey results show that the people are now ?seeing beyond the campaign propaganda of other camps and discerning who is truly opposition and who is truly pro-poor. And that is Erap.?

?This is obviously good news in terms of ranking although we still need to catch up with Noynoy in terms of percentages. But it?s a good feeling to hit No. 2 and this is a good time to be there,? Salcedo said.

?The next ten days are critical,? she added.

Estrada?s next outings will be in Bataan on Friday, Mandaluyong City on Saturday, Baguio City on Sunday and Metro Manila in the last week of the campaign period.