Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte--The administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate won't be implementing radical changes to its campaign strategy despite three to four of its bets being outside of the "magic 12" as far as surveys are concerned.

Thus, said Alyansa campaign manager Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, who nonetheless exuded confidence on the Alyansa candidates' winnability based on their platforms.

Tiangco accompanied the Alyansa bets in a press conference here Friday, March 14, roughly a month into the ongoing campaign period.

“Nakaka-isang buwan na tayo, kaya napakagandang opportunity ito at itutuloy-tuloy lang namin dahil nakita naman nating maganda ang tinatakbo ng kampanya (We're a month into this, that’s why this is a good opportunity and we will just continue what we're doing because we can see that the campingn is going well),” Tiangco said.

Tiangco acknowledged that eight to nine Alyansa candidates out of 12 are consistently placing in the magic 12 or winners' circle of senatorial surveys. 

"May panahon para humabol at makilala ng ating mga kababayan yung ating mga kandidato (There's still time for the candidates to catch up and for them to make an impression to people.)

Asked if a "radical change" in campaign strategy would be done moving forward, Tiangco answered in the negative.

"Ah wala, wala naman pong radical change, siguro may minor tweaks in the strategy (No, there won't be any radical change, maybe just minor tweaks in the strategy), depending on the assessment of our team and of course the inputs of the candidates, and of the campaign team of the candidates," he said.

Comprising the Alyansa slate are former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III; former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos; former Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao; Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino; Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; House Deputy Speaker Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar; and House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo. 

Rgarding surveys, Tiangco said they provide a snapshot of past voter sentiment, and can help the coalition adjust its approach with less than 60 days remaining before the elections.

“‘Yan po ang maganda sa legitimate surveys, nakikita po natin kung anong areas ang dapat na i-improve para mas gumanda po at mas marami sa ating mga kandidato ang makapasok doon sa magic 12,” he said.

(That's what's good about legitimate surveys, we can see the areas where we should improve so that more of our candidates can enter the magic 12.)

Leyte is considered a bailiwick of Alyansa to its connection to the Marcoses.