The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines – With a little more than a month before the national elections, Senator Benigno Aquino III continues to lead the candidates for president, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Aquino got 37 percent of the 3,000 respondents who were surveyed from March 21-28, by Pulse Asia. Closest rival, Senator Manny Villar, is at second with 25 percent. Former president Joseph Estrada is third with 18 percent, former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, fourth, with seven percent; Senator Richard Gordon and Brother Eddie Villanueva, with two percent each.

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Estrada a no-show, cites PDI’s ‘bias’ against him

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Eight candidates showed up at the first ever presidential debate organized by the Philippine Daily Inquirer held on Monday, a day before the start of the official campaign period.

In attendance were frontrunners Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel Villar, administration bet Gilbert Teodoro, Senators Richard Gordon and Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Nicanor Perlas and JC de los Reyes.

Former president Joseph Estrada did not attend the debate, citing “bias” against him by the paper.

The event is being held at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman Quezon City.

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MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 6) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s officials had repeatedly warned Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu against challenging the political bid of the Ampatuans because they were a “violent people,” the local executive himself told the court Wednesday.

Mangudadatu said that following his decision to run against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. for the governorship of Maguindanao, he was approached by Secretary Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser for political affairs, then defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, and former congressman Prospero Pichay on separate occasions.

Mangudadatu, who as of posting time is testifying at the resumption of the trial against Ampatuan Jr., said that Pichay called him last November 9 to ask if he was sure about running against Ampatuan Jr.

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MANILA, Philippines—The ratings of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Manny Villar are up in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on presidential candidates.

But Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is still the leading choice of Filipinos to succeed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The nationwide survey, conducted from Nov. 4 to 8, showed Aquino topping the list of three leaders vying to replace Ms Arroyo, with 59 percent of respondents choosing him.

Aquino was followed by Villar and Sen. Francis Escudero with 45 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

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MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro and television host Eduardo Manzano filed their candidacies for president and vice president respectively at the Commission on Elections office in Manila.

Teodoro and Manzano will be running under the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

“The filing of our CoCs [certificates of candidacy] is the first step to clinch our total victory in next year’s elections. We advocate total reform and continuation of programs under the proven leadership of Lakas-Kampi. We will not state our edge over other candidates because it is up to the people to decide on the advantages and nuisances of each candidate,” said Teodoro, the 57th candidate for president in the 2010 elections.

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Gibo & Manzano tandem

MANILA, Philippines - Acknowledging the “big and arduous task” ahead for the ruling party, President Arroyo directed yesterday her party mates to work hard to ensure the victory of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro and running mate Edu Manzano in the May 2010 elections.

“Hindi po ako natatakot na tanggapin ang hamon na ito ‘pagkat di ko hamon ito, hamon po nating lahat,” Teodoro his partymates and stalwarts, led by President Arroyo during Lakas-Kampi convention at PICC, Pasay City.

Mrs. Arroyo gave the order just before she formally relinquished the chairmanship of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD to Teodoro during the party’s jampacked national convention at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

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