Former President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada ranks the second, after Vice President Noli de Castro, in a list of "presidentiables" for the May 2010 elections, reports said on Saturday.
If presidential elections were held at present, De Castro, a known administration ally, would win, the Philippine Star citing a Pulse Asia survey reported. Pulse Asia is a public opinion polling body in the Philippines, monitoring salient socio-economic, political and cultural issues in the minds of the Filipino public.
The vice president was favored by 22 percent of Filipino adults, followed by Estrada with 16 percent.
Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda were tied in third place with 14 percent.
Senate President Manuel Villar came in fourth with 12 percent, followed by Sen. Mar Roxas, eight percent.
Ten "presidentiables" were included in the survey, which was not commissioned by any party, said Ana Maria Tabunda, executive director of Pulse Asia. The survey used face-to-face interviews of1, 200 representative adults 18 years old and above, she added.
Responding to the latest survey showing him tailing frontrunner Vice President Noli de Castro, Estrada said it was too early to think about the 2010 presidential elections. "Instead of the elections, we should look at how to help resolve the various crises plaguing the country."
Estrada maintained that he would be "the last option" in the 2010 presidential elections, should the opposition remain divided on their choice of presidential candidate.
"This (survey) reflects that the people still trust me in spite of the demonizations against me in the power grab in 2001," Estrada said, referring to the popular revolt that removed him from office in January 2001 amid allegations of graft.
Pulse Asia said survey results indicate that De Castro essentially maintains the voter support he enjoyed in March 2008, which was 21 percent.
The Pulse Asia survey for 2010 presidentiables was the first that included Estrada, who was peacefully overthrown and replace by the then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Estrada was convicted of plunder in September last year and pardoned by President Arroyo in the following month.
Since his release from detention at his suburban house, Estradahas embarked on a road tour to express his gratitude to his supporters in the Philippines' capital of Metro Manila and the provinces.
Estrada said he had no intention to seek reelection and run in 2010, but he may be forced to run again if the opposition fails to come up with a single candidate under a single ticket.
Source: Xinhua
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