No reason to worry about survey results, UNA says

Tiya Pusit dancing with Maceda on stage. KAREN BONCOCAN

PAMPANGA, Philippines — The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) has no reason to be worried about the latest election surveys showing government-backed candidates dominating the “Top 12” slots for senator.

Former senator Ernesto Maceda said that private surveys indicated a split between Team PNoy and UNA.

This is in contrast with the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys that showed Team PNoy candidates enjoying an 8-4, 9-3 advantage.

Maceda said that the results of the SWS surveys may not necessarily translate to the real standing of the senatorial candidates as “they only surveyed 20 provinces.”

“The surveys are not necessarily conclusive,” he added.

More Team PNoy candidates have been making it to the top 12 and LP bet Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal has even said that UNA’s Harlem Shake and Gangnam Style dance gimmicks during their rallies were obviously not working.

At UNA’s sortie here on Saturday, Binay and former senators Ernesto Maceda and Juan Miguel Zubiri danced Gangnam Style on stage with their host comedienne Tiya Pusit.

Asked about how the poll results reflected on the capability of UNA to win in the May elections, campaign manager Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, Nancy Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, expressed confidence.

“I believe in Congressman Tiangco’s strategy,” she said, adding that until the appointment of Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian as deputy campaign manager, Tiangco was alone in overseeing UNA’s campaign while the Liberal Party had more people working.

“Nag-iisa lang siya, ilan sila sa LP,” Binay said in defense of Tiangco.