With barely two months before the May 10 elections, independent presidential candidate Nicanor Perlas expressed confidence that he will beat his contenders, saying that he is already catching up with survey frontliners Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Liberal Party) and Senator Manuel Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party) as shown in “unpublished” survey results.

In an interview on ANC’s Strictly Politics presidential forum Tuesday night, Perlas claimed that unpublished surveys showed him at 5th place with 1 to 2 percent of votes from the respondents.

Recent surveys conducted by pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that Perlas ranked 8th among the 10 presidential candidates (including Vetallano Acosta).

At the time the surveys were conducted, Acosta was not yet disqualified by the Commission on Elections.

The Pulse Asia survey conducted last Feb. 21 to 25 with 1,800 respondents, Perlas was in 8th place with 0.2 percent of the total votes.

The SWS survey also conducted last Feb. 24 to 25 with 2,100 respondents showed that Perlas also ranked 8th with 0.2 percent of the votes.

“Some surveys that are not published yet says I’m already number 5 with 1 to 2 percent of the votes,” he said, but was unable to mention the organization that conducted the survey. “Statistically speaking, when you reach 2 percent, chance will be good (that we’ll win). Seriously, we are catching up and we can make it,” he added.

He pointed out that he still has voters’ support “by the millions” that is not coming out in the surveys yet, with a massive support from class D (poor) and E (masa) that translates to 85 percent of the total electorate. “My total goal and consciousness is to win in May 2010,” he stressed.

At present, Perlas noted that his campaign is now more focused on gaining the support of vote-rich provinces and cities. He said half of Filipino voters are still undecided on whom to vote.

The independent presidential candidate also claimed that he is already number two, behind Aquino, with regard to Internet presence, with 850,000 hits.

“At the end of the day, Noynoy (Aquino) and Manny (Villar) may not remain on top as independent candidates may rise to the top,” he said.