Loren tops SWS Senate poll, but...

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda has topped the latest survey on possible senatorial winners in next year’s elections.

But she has no plans to seek re-election and is instead eyeing the presidency.

The results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted last March 10-23 were leaked to senators yesterday. Legarda admitted receiving "unofficial" results, copies of which were released to the media by her staff.

Sought for comment, she said it was difficult for her to comment on something unofficial.

"If these are true, nakakatuwa naman. At least, nakikita ng taong bayan ang ating performance (If true, then that’s heartening... the people see our performance)," she said.

However, she said her leaders and supporters throughout the country have been urging her to seek higher office.

When asked if she is considering running for president, she said "yes."

Legarda topped the senatorial elections in 1998. She is just on her first term. Senators are limited to two six-year terms.

Re-electionist Sen. John Henry Osmeña was in second slot in the "unofficial" survey results, followed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, movie actor Ramon Revilla Jr., former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, Sen. Rene Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, Sen. Robert Barbers, former press secretary Ricardo Puno and former senator Ernesto Maceda.

In the next 12 slots are former senators Francisco Tatad and Ernesto Herrera, Sen. Robert Jaworski, Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan, Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, presidential adviser on overseas workers Heherson Alvarez, economist Solita Monsod, actor Richard Gomez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina,. former Pangasinan governor Oscar Orbos and House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla.

Besides Legarda, Barbers, Marcos and Gonzales admitted receiving the unofficial results. A check made by The STAR showed that SWS has not posted the survey on its website.

At Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye declined to comment on the results of the SWS survey that had none of the present Cabinet members, perceived to be eyeing Senate seats next year, in the winning circle.

Bunye said he had not seen results of the mock senatorial elections as surveyed by the SWS. "We’ll see it until we get the actual results," he said, notwithstanding that the Palace is a subscriber of SWS surveys.

He also downplayed that the ruling Lakas party lost a potentially strong standard-bearer with the dropping out of Sen. Juan Flavier from the presidential race next year due to health reasons. Flavier admitted he is suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and cataract.

"No, I don’t think so," Bunye retorted when asked if Flavier’s backing out was a setback for the administration.

He pointed out that President Arroyo’s choice of standard-bearer will be known in December, and before then it would be best to set aside any politicking.

"The President’s instruction was for all those who are interested in the position to make themselves known. So Senator Flavier has done that and he has made his decision based on his assessment of his own standing as far as the race is concerned. There are still others around," he said.

In a related development, Vice President Teofisto Guingona, who is Lakas-NUCD president, said Flavier will always be an asset to the party even if he is no longer a candidate for president.

"I sympathize with Senator Flavier but I am sure he will recover soon," Guingona said. "Certainly we have to respect his decision, but I am sure he will be able to recover soon."

Meanwhile, Legarda said Mrs. Arroyo should consider going on a self-quarantine upon returning from a conference on the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Bangkok.

"If we are strict about it, all those returning from SARS-infected areas should be quarantined," she said.

She suggested that if Mrs. Arroyo does not want to be quarantined, "she should avoid making beso-beso and shaking hands." — With Marichu Villanueva, Sammy Santos