HILONGOS, Leyte, Philippines?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is busy making deals with the front-running candidates to ensure her political survival after June 30, said presidential candidate Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday.

And the exodus of Arroyo's prominent allies out of the administration party to support Senator Manuel Villar's presidential bid has shown Arroyo's declining support for Lakas-Kampi standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro, he added.

?She (Arroyo) will support anybody who she feels has enough resources to win" to get protection from numerous suits,? Gordon said.

"They are playing with everybody. If you have so many sins, you've got to talk to anybody (who might be of help)."

Arroyo's allies, like boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, the influential Garcias of Cebu, Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri, and former Ilocos Governor Luis ?Chavit? Singson have reportedly dropped administration bet Gilbert Teodoro to support Villar.

Gordon said that it was possible Arroyo had been talking with Villar and Senator Benigno Aquino III's camp while still appearing to support Teodoro.

"Traditional politicians tend to go with Villar. They do not use their heads. It is no longer a question of character but of who has the most money,? he said.

But he said his presidential campaign had brought "many surprises" showing that while traditional politicians support popular candidates, "the presidency will be decided by the people."

Gordon went to this remote town of 37,000 registered voters on Saturday night to attend the proclamation rally of his local candidates?a full slate from mayor down to councilors.

This is Gordon's first local proclamation rally.

Shipping company owner Joy Roble is running for mayor under the Bagumbayan Party along with his running mate Crispin Fulache and eight councilors, including bar exams passer Reynaldo Badilla, who learned he passed the exams only the night before the rally.

Roble ran but lost for vice mayor in the 2004 elections. He claimed the election was rigged.

But he said his faith in the election has been renewed with the promise of an efficient vote count in the first automated elections in the country.

Roble said: "I chose to run under the party because the leader is my idol and because I believe that the party is against corruption and has track record."

Gordon asked the more than 1,000 people who attended the rally to support his local candidates.

Roble said the crowd would have been much bigger, but that many had left because the rally started late.

Gordon was supposed to fly to Hilongos from Catarman in Samar on a private plane but heavy rains in Catarman prevented Gordon from using air transport.

From Manila, he instead got on a commercial flight to Tacloban City and got on a convoy that reached Hilongos after more than three hours.

Roble manages his family's shipping business whose 17 vessels ferry cargo and passengers between Cebu, Ormoc City, and Hilongos.