Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III has regained his lead in presidential race based on the latest pre-election survey commissioned by one of his ally, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

Pangilinan said the survey conducted by London-based Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) proved that the big advertisement spending of other candidates doesn’t matter to the voting public, who he said began to maturely assess the platforms and messages of each presidential candidates.

“It is proof that despite the billions pumped in by our adversaries in paid ads, our people remain steadfast in their support for Senator Aquino and that they see in him the  golden opportunity to elect an honest leader they can trust and who can make real change happen,” he added.

Based on a national survey conducted by London-based Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), 42 percent of the 3,000 respondents polled nationwide from January 28 to February 3 will vote for Aquino if the presidential election was held that period.

Aquino leads by 11 percent his toughest contender, Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) who got the preference of 31 percent of the respondents. The result of the TNS survey was in contrast with the result of the much popular Pulse Asia survey that claimed Villar and Aquino are statistically tied with only a 2-percent difference.

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada came in third place with 12 percent, followed by Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr. with 5 percent, while Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva and Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon were tied with 2 percent.

Meanwhile, Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal got 0.22 percent, Councilor JC delos Reyes obtained 0.11 percent, Vetallano Acosta earned 0.02 percent, and Nicanor Perlas had 0.01 percent.

Pangilinan, campaign manager for the LP senatorial slate, said the result of the TNS survey “confirms the LP’s long-standing position that our people yearn for real change in their lives and aspire for a new direction for our nation.”

The senator reminded the other presidential aspirants not to forget that in 2007 elections, eight of the top 12 biggest ad spenders in the Senate race lost.

“More than paid ads, it is the message of real change and honesty in government that our people yearn for and which Noynoy Aquino represents,” he added.