Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) presidential bet Joseph Estrada expressed disbelief on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey yesterday, showing him still in third place in the presidential race in the May 10 elections.

"I don’t believe that," Estrada said following a press conference in Mandaluyong City when asked for his response on the most recent SWS survey. The polls revealed Liberal Party bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III is way ahead his closest rival Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Manny Villar Jr with double digit lead.

The survey, which was carried out from April 16 to 19, revealed that Estrada is immovable in third place with a 17-percent preference rating — a two-percentage point drop from his 19-percent rating a month ago.

The former president accused the SWS of committing mistakes in the 2004 national elections when the poll firm said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won in all Metro Manila cities.

"Noong 2004 elections, sinabi nila sa exit polls, panalo raw si Arroyo sa Metro Manila. Ano nangyari? Talo. Out of 17 cities and municipalities, isa lang ipinanalo ni Arroyo. Hindi error ‘yun," he said. (In the 2004 elections, SWS said in its exit polls that Arroyo won in Metro Manila. But what happened? Of the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, Arroyo won in only one. I don’t think that’s an error.)

Erap also stated that he trusts more the nationwide survey reportedly commissioned by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, which shows that he has overtaken Villar in second place.

"Six thousand ang respondents noon. ‘Yung respondents ng SWS 1,200 to 1,400 lang. Mas credible (That’s more credible because it has 6,000 respondents compared to SWS’ 1,200 to 1,400)," he said.

Estrada also stated that the voters should not believe surveys and pick the presidential candidate who they think will offer good governance.