Chief Justice Reynato Puno has a good chance of winning in the 2010 presidential elections, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said Saturday.

Cruz said he is "101 percent" in favor of the candidacy of the chief justice, who he described as  the "pride of the justice system."

“I really think he has the chance to win. Even those impeachment attempts and other allegations helped in his popularity,” Cruz said in a radio dzMM interview.

Cruz also believed that the Catholic Church will rally behind Puno if ever he decides to run for president.

“It’s not just about the personal relationship. I know he’s a just man with a clear mind, and he can really be trusted," he said.

The archbishop was also optimistic that many government officials will help and support Puno should he win in the 2010 polls.

“There are still a number of good and honest people in government who can help him in his leadership should he win in 2010, although they’re not that many. It would be hard for the corrupt ones to go against someone who’s clearly very respectable,” he said, adding:

“I don’t know if I’m being too idealistic but I’d like to say that the possibility is there. It’s not impossible for him to win should he choose to run.”

On Wednesday Puno  called on religious leaders to step forward and act as "moral forces" to save the country from "moral decadence."

"Maybe the time will come when he'll speak before the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) about his call to moral force, about this movement. Then he'll have a chance to be heard," Cruz said.

Some sectors have urged Puno to run for president in 2010 amid reports that an impeachment complaint would be filed against him. Puno has been accused of inaction in connection with the disqualification case filed against Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong.

Puno, however, rejected the possibility of him running for president, saying he has no political ambitions.