MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Embattled Senator Manny Villar has emerged as the leading presidential contender in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Station.

Villar, who has been accused of using his position to benefit from the C-5 road extension project, posted a high 22 percent approval rating from 7,000 respondents polled nationwide by the SWS between April 16 and May 6, 2009.

Vice President Noli de Castro followed Villar with 18 percent ; Senator Francis Escudero and deposed President Joseph Estrada with 14; Senator Loren Legarda with 10 percent; Senator Manuel Roxas with 9 percent; Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson with 6 percent, Makati Jejomar Binay with 2 percent; Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando with 1 percent.

The survey has a marginal error of 1.2 percent.

In a scenario with five candidates, Villar also topped the list with 27 percent, followed by De Castro with 22 percent; Escudero with 19 percent; Estrada with 16 percent; and Legarda with 13 percent.

Villar retained the top post with 31 percent even in a scenario with only four candidates. He was followed by De Castro 24 percent; Escudero with 23 percent; and Legarda with 18 percent.

If the 2010 presidential race would be a three-way contest among Escudero, De Castro and Villar, the latter would still win the election with 37 percent compared to De Castro’s 30 percent and Escudero’s 27 percent.

If it’s a three-way contest with De Castro and Legarda, Villar would still win the presidency with 39 percent with De Castro getting only 30 percent and Legarda, 24 percent.

“In a scenario with De Castro and Villar as candidates, Villar leads over De Castro with a score of 53 percent v. 38 percent. Those undecided, don’t know, none comprise 9 percent,” said the survey.

“In a scenario with Escudero and Villar as candidates, Villar leads with 56 percent, Escudero with 35 percent. Those undecided, don’t know none, comprise 9 percent,” it said.

“In a scenario with Legarda and Villar as candidates, Villar leads over Legarda, with 57 percent vs. 34 percent. Those undecided, don’t know, none comprise 9 percent,” it further said.

Meanwhile Escudero emerged as the top choice for Villar’s running mate with 21 percent, followed by De Castro, 20 percent; Legarda, 19 percent; Roxas, 16 percent; Batangas Governor Vilma Santos and Senator Jose “Jingoy” Estrada 7 percent each, and Susan Roces-Poe with 3 percent.

Reached for comment, former Congressman Gilbert Remulla, spokesman of Villar’s Nacionalista Party, admitted that the result was “reflective” of the survey that they had commissioned in the SWS.

“No comment but we find the result accurate and reflective of our own survey,” Remulla said over the phone.

“We have our survey done periodically but we do it for internal use,” he further said.