TUPI, South Cotabato - Even if the boxing world's pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao hails from this region, his fame and influence proved to be insufficient to boost voters' confidence on Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. over Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

This, according to South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who claimed that results of local pre-election surveys in District I consistently favored Aquino while Villar came at a "far third." Former President Joseph Estrada is the consistent second placer.

"In our district, I believe it will be an LP win because Senators Aquino and Roxas are leading in local surveys. The second placers are candidates from Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of President Estrada," she said in a press conference during an LP rally here.

When asked if Pacquiao has influenced his province mates' presidential candidate of choice, Custodio, who defeated Pacquiao in the 2007 elections, replied in the negative, citing alleged Villar's flanking in the ratings.

"Actually NP ranked a 'far' third. From the last survey, LP leads PMP with 9.6 points and NP with 20 points. And actually the People’ Champ Movement is only present in General Santos, not in Tupi, Tampakan and Polomolok," she added.