SAGAY CITY - Team Unity senatorial candidates yesterday predicted a big win saying that, despite the survey results, their machinery will kick in and deliver the votes on election day.

Senatorial candidate Prospero Pichay went as far as predicting a 12-0 win for Team Unity saying the opposition does not have local candidates in 95 percent of the towns and cities to help them win.

But Grand Opposition bet Loren Legarda said "That's their wish". "I respect their opinion and their wish but I'm sorry I don't think that can come true, because local leaders and the people will choose candidates," she said.

"Maybe 12-0 in their barangay but it cannot be 12-0 nationwide," she said.

Legarda was the lone GO bet amid Team Unity senatorial bets Pichay, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Luis "Chavit" Singson at the birthday of Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon here.

Legarda asked media not to read any political malice into her presence at the birthday bash also attended by presidential brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (Neg Occ., 5th district) and Nationalist People's Coalition chairman Eduardo Cojuangco. She said she only came to greet the governor on his birthday. Singson said Team Unity is not worried at all that the administration bets are not doing well in the surveys.

He said in the last elections the surveys showed Senator Jamby Madrigal in No. 25 but on election day was in number 4, he said.

"In all politics what is important is organization and machinery which the administration has," he said.

"I've visited a lot of provinces where the opposition has no local bets," he said. He said when the administration's local bets start campaigning next month the surveys will change, he said.

The opposition bets have no machinery, they have gone to a lot of places and no people no show up, he said.

Singson said the opposition's accusations that the administration bets are using government funds is just their excuse because they have no funds.

The Team Unity is well funded because a lot of people are helping it, he said.

"They should get their money from Joseph Estrada, he has a lot of money or get funds from the Velarde account," he said.

"They idolize a person charged for plunder and corruption, how can they stop it," he said.

Singson said "Illegal gambling should be stopped, my only involvement in illegal gambling is that I was used by the former president."

Pichay said if you go back to history it is always like that, the opposition is always ahead at the start of the campaign because of their exposés.

But when the campaign gets into full swing and the playing field is leveled, then the administration candidates can catch up, he said.

In the last election Fernando Poe was leading the president 36 to 25 percent but as the campaign went on the president started inching up, he said.

"Then when the local government units started campaigning then the president was able to overtake Poe in the homestretch so I believe it will happen again, history will always repeat itself," he said.

"The administration candidates can catch up with the administration, right now they are in disarray," Pichay said.

Zubiri predicted a 7-5 win for the administration bets.

Gov. Marañon said he will work hard for the Team Unity bets but he can not guarantee a 12-0 win. Asked if he is supporting Legarda, he said, I leave that to the conscience of the voters.

The governor especially pushed the senatorial bid of Zubiri who he said is from Negros and would represent the province in the Senate.*CPG

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