MANILA - The Marcos children have made peace with the Aquinos, but they are not prepared to throw their support behind the presidential bid of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
 
Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Monday belittled the chances of Aquino and predicted that the 2010 elections will be a two-way fight between former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Manuel Villar.
 
"There is no doubt that Noynoy has pure intentions and that he is really willing to serve the public with all his heart. But I think Erap and Manny are already miles ahead of him," he said in a statement.
 
"Noynoy needs to double his efforts. He has to reach out to farmers and fishermen. I know he has strong appeal, and he should work on this more," he added.
 
The statement was issued the day after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) September 5-6 survey was disclosed showing Aquino leading the polls in four vote-rich regions in Luzon. (Read: 50% prefer Noynoy in vote-rich areas of Luzon)

Aquino ranked first with 50% preference. Senator Manny Villar, with 14% preference, was statistically tied with former Pres. Joseph Estrada (13%) and Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero (12%).
 
The late fathers of Rep. Marcos and Senator Aquino were stalwarts of the Liberal Party (LP) until Marcos left the party in 1964 to join the Nacionalista Party (NP). The LP and the NP are the country's two oldest political parties.
 
Rep. Marcos is a member of his late father's political party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), but he is in the shortlist of NP standard- bearer Villar's senatorial slate.