Villar downplays black prop, focuses on Mindanao campaign

KIDAPAWAN (March 10) - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar drew cheers from thousands of students who welcomed him during his visit Wednesday to various schools in Mindanao.

Villar was upbeat and showed no signs of being affected by a barrage of black propaganda launched by his political foes following his improving opinion polls, the latest of which was the Social Weather Station survey showing him and his closest rival Noynoy Aquino in a statistical tie.

Villar toured the campuses of Central Mindanao Colleges and Notre Dame School in Kidapawan as well as the University of Southern Mindanao in Cotabato.

Amid black propaganda thrown his way, Villar said he is happy with the warm reception of people wherever he goes, and with the results of recent surveys.

"Ginagantimpalaan naman ang ating mga paghihirap sa mga kampanya. Nalalaman ng ating mga kababayan ang ating mga plataporma at alam rin nila na kaya nating gawin ang ating mga sinasabi," said Villar.

Villar said the NP will continue to focus on its campaign that will bring his message of poverty alleviation and good governance to the people.

"Patuloy naming paiigtingin ang aming kampanya na nakasentro sa paglaban sa kahirapan. 'Yan naman ang importante sa amin, hindi ang paninira. Hindi na rin namin pinapatulan ang mga akusasyon laban sa amin," he said.

Villar also shook hands with vendors and market-goers during his visit to public markets in Mindanao particularly in Kidapawan and Koronadal.