Loren: Don’t count me out of presidential race

MABALACAT, Pampanga — Sen. Loren Legarda wants Malacañang to decide way before December who would be the administration coalition’s presidential bet in 2004.

And she is asking voters not to count her out yet in the presidential race amid the common belief that she is settling for the vice presidency.

"I have always been thought of as being interested only in the vice presidency because I have been topping surveys on vice presidentiables, but I have not closed the possibility of my running for the highest office," Legarda said in an interview after speaking before the graduates of the Jose Feliciano College here yesterday.

Earlier, President Arroyo urged members of the administration party to express their interest to become the presidential standard bearer up to December.

Former Sen. Raul Roco, who has already declared his intention to run for president in 2004, was believed to have sought the blessings of Malacanañg during his recent meeting with the President.

Both Mrs. Arroyo and Roco, however, denied that the meeting had anything to do with his political plans.

"December (as deadline for choosing the presidential candidate) is a bit too late for the President’s endorsement of a candidate. It takes time to organize, to raise funds, to mount a nationwide campaign," Legarda said.

She added: "It is important for the administration party to engage in a selection process soon so that the leaders in the local and grassroots level would also know where they should stand and whom they would be rallying behind."

Legarda said she has not yet declared that she would run for president, and that she might opt to run for vice president or even seek re-election as senator.

She said she would announce her decision soon.

"The best preparation would be to continue doing a good job," she said.

She added that she has been "going around the country to meet with officials and local folk as the best way to feel the pulse of the people and find out where they want me and what they want me to do."