Former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Former Sen. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay, Jr., has admitted being disappointed with the latest survey results of the Social Weather Stations but expressed optimism that his yet-to-be-released media placements and an intensified campaign effort would cause him to make it to winner’s circle next month.
A two-term senator who retired from the Senate in 2007, the 74-year old stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party placed No. 16 in the latest poll results.
“I am affected by the results of the survey, of course. But that’s not enough reason to dampen my strong resolve to be of service to the people,” Magsaysay said in a statement.
“Modesty aside, I accomplished a lot in my 12-year stint but there’s much to be done still. That’s why I would want to continue my work as a legislator and push for good governance as well as needed reforms,” he added.
Magsaysay, during his time in Congress in 1995 to 2007, sponsored such laws as the Anti-Money Laundering Act that penalized attempts to legitimize proceeds of crime and the E-Commerce Act that provided legal recognition, admissibility and evidential value of electronic data messages.
He was also the chairman of the committee on agriculture and food that looked into the multimillion-peso fertilizer fund scam under the Arroyo administration and the committee on national defense that looked into the alleged collusion of military officers and bandits during Basilan siege in the early 2000s.
“Hopefully, I am optimistic that we’ll do good in the next round of poll survey and be among the top 12. We will continue to reach out to the electorate and study further the areas in which we should intensify our efforts in this campaign,” Magsaysay said.
Magsaysay said that at the time when the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey was conducted, his “various multimedia advertisements have not been released.”
Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, a Team Pnoy stalwart also outside the Top 12 at No. 14, said there was still a lot of time to catch up and make into the winning group.
“It’s just a matter of explaining to the people my advocacies and how it will help President Aquino in his bid to continue his reform program,” Madrigal said in a press statement.
Madrigal is relying on her track record in her only six-year term to convince voters to bring her back to the Senate.