MANILA, Philippines - Suggestions that President Macapagal-Arroyo can run for vice president in 2010 were received with skepticism and even ridiculed by a wary Senate.

Several senators sneered at Rep. Danilo Suarez’s statement that Ms Arroyo could still occupy a national elective post after her term ends in June.

“It’s a formula for disaster if you ask me,” said Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in a text message.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan doubted whether President Arroyo was even toying with this idea.

“Her approval ratings are in the negative. Public disenchantment over her leadership is widespread nationwide and cuts across all sectors. She will not risk running and losing. The stakes are too high and the risk are too great,” he said by phone.

“Most likely she will seek a local post where she has better chances of winning, “said Pangilinan, referring to rumors that she will be running for a congressional seat in Pampanga.

A stunned Sen. Francis Escudero said the idea was repulsive.

“That is too much already. Why cant people turn their back on power? I guess the saying is true: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” he said.

‘Vice’ presidency

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano ridiculed a “Gibo-Gloria” tandem of Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. and President Arroyo.

“Isn’t her presidency plagued with vice? That is stealing, cheating, and lying, so in a sense people are already used to an Arroyo vice presidency. It will be Gibo that will be affected,” said Cayetano in a text message.

The senator said this tandem may keep politician support of the administration party intact and lead to massive use of government resources, “but getting popular support will go from very difficult to almost impossible.”

“Does Gibo want to spend his precious time answering issues on the nine years of the Arroyos? Whatever way we look at it, it won’t be good for the country,” he said.

His sister, Senator Pia, was almost speechless when told of the news.

“I’m shocked at the proposal but I won’t make any statement in the meantime,” she said.

Surprises

The two declared vice presidential candidates were also skeptical of a vice presidential run for Ms Arroyo, but did not close this possibility outright.

Sen. Loren Legarda said Malacañang was just “floating” the idea to test the waters.

“I think she’s running for Congress in Pampanga. While she is not legally barred from doing so, I don’t think she will do it. But who knows? There are surprises in politics,” she said.

Sought for comment, Sen. Mar Roxas teasingly claimed that having Ms Arroyo as his opponent would even give him greater chances of winning the vice presidency.

“Why should we fear that? What we (in LP) stand for is righteousness. They symbolize wrong deeds,” he said.