BAGUIO CITY ? Senator Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday said he might run again as a Las Piñas congressman in 2010 should the House of Representatives succeed in its bid to adopt the parliamentary system.

Villar, a former Speaker and Senate president, said it would be his best chance to become prime minister.

?We cannot say it is over,? Villar said, referring to Tuesday?s Supreme Court decision dismissing as premature a challenge to House Resolution No. 1109 to convene a constituent assembly (Con-ass) to amend the Constitution without the Senate.

?Charter change [Cha-cha] advocates still have enough time by our calculations and create a parliament,? he told reporters here.

Should this happen, Villar said in Filipino, ?I will then run for Congress in Las Piñas so I may run for prime minister.?

The Villar family was here for a vacation on Wednesday.

Senate response too soft

Villar, who has announced his intention to run for president in 2010 under the Nacionalista Party, stressed that seeking a congressional seat was just one of his options although he said he has not given it much thought.

One of his sons, Mark, has been tapped to run for Las Piñas representative, but he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he would give way to his father, ?if that is what it takes, if Cha-cha [Charter change] proceeds.?

Mark?s mother, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, ends her term in 2010, paving the way for Mark to file his certificate of candidacy in November.

?Last year, I was very certain that all the senators would not support Cha-cha. This year, I am less certain,? Villar said, pointing out that the Senate leadership has not strongly challenged HR 1109.

?The reactions to Charter change are too soft ? I don?t think there is even a response,? Villar said when asked how Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has addressed the issue.