MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal filed her candidacy for president Tuesday at the Commission on Elections office in Manila.

Madrigal, whose term ends in July 2010, will run as an independent.

Madrigal filed her certificate of candidacy at 7:30 a.m. and was accompanied by lawyer Gary Jimenez.

Asked about her chances of winning in next year's elections, she said: “It is up to God and the Filipino people. I am in here to fight for a principled platform that aims to give business loans to every family courtesy of the government, rescind VFA (Visiting Forces Agreement) and provisions like JPEPA that strip us of our rights to manage and use our resources.”

The lady senator also stressed that Filipinos were ready to choose leaders who advocated principled leadership unlike the promise of new faces who were trapos (traditional politicians).

She added that she did not choose a running mate nor did she have a senatorial lineup to give candidates a chance to form a group under her leadership.

Madrigal, whose term as senator will end in July 2010, issued a statement on Monday that she would formalize her presidential bid on the last day of filing. She identified "good governance and pro-Filipino economy" as her advocacy.

“I am running for president under progressive politics not traditional patronage politics. This is not a personal ambition but because of my will to honor the name of my late great grandfather Jose Abad Santos,” Madrigal said.

Until after her announcement on Monday, it was unclear whether Madrigal would continue her presidential bid or seek re-election. Earlier reports surfaced that the Liberal Party headed by Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Mar Roxas III maintained it has reserved a slot for Madrigal in its senatorial slate.