MANILA - Senator Manuel Villar on Saturday said former President Joseph Estrada could be his strongest opponent in the May 2010 elections if the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey on Filipinos' presidential preferences will not change.

During the Kapihan sa Sulo forum, Villar, who is ahead in the opinion polls surveys of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS), said the strongest contender would be the aspirant in second place in the surveys.

Based on Pulse Asia's August 2009 survey, Villar was ahead with 25% choosing him as their first pick for president.

Estrada was next with 19%, followed by Vice-President Noli de Castro at 16%. 

Senators Chiz Escudero and Mar Roxas were statistically tied at 12% and 11% respectively.

If Estrada and de Castro both finally decide to run, Villar said it will be an interesting race, considering he is close to both leaders.

Villar and de Castro were both part of the informal "Wednesday Club," then a group of neophyte, like-minded senators. It also included Senators Francis Pangilinan, former Senator Ralph Recto, Senator Joker Arroyo.

With respect to his being close to the Estrada camp, there are reports that Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, could be Villar's running mate. 
 
"Matalik kong mga kaibigan si President Erap at si Noli, kaya ayokong magsalita laban sa kanila. Isipin natin kung ano ang magagawa natin sa bansa," he said. "Sa contest na ito tignan natin kung ano'ng mangyayari."

However, Villar said many things can still happen which will affect the Filipino people's presidential preferences before the filing of the certificate of candidacy by the end of November.

Villar denied, however, that he is in talks with the administration to be its standard-bearer.

"I haven't seen the President since natanggal ako sa Senado," the former Senate president said, reiterating that he is clearly a leader of an opposition party, the Nacionalista Party.

He said the party has not decided who its vice-presidential candidate will be.

Jump to first pick

With just over three months left before the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy, Villar had jumped to first pick for president in the August 2009 Pulse Asia survey on Filipinos' preferences for the May 10, 2010 elections.

In its August 25 media release, Pulse Asia said one in four Filipinos (25%) would elect Villar as the country's next president, based on the survey it conducted from July 28 to August 10, 2009.

The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 2%.

The biggest gainers in the survey were Villar, who gained 11 points from the May 2009 Pulse Asia survey, and Estrada, who gained 4 points from May.

The biggest losers from the May survey were Escudero, who dropped 5 points, de Castro (2 points), and Roxas (2 points).

In the May 2009 Pulse Asia survey, Villar was in a statistical tie for second place with Estrada and Roxas.

De Castro and Escudero were in a statistical tie for first place in the May 2009 survey.