MANILA, Philippines?By his own declaration, Vice President Noli de Castro is not closing the door to politics in 2010.

At least two sources in the Senate have said that De Castro did not want to run for president under the administration banner because this entailed a ?kiss of death? from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, De Castro may seek reelection as vice president.

Santiago apparently knows that something is afoot regarding De Castro.

There is persistent talk that Sen. Manuel Villar, the president of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and its standard-bearer in the 2010 elections, is considering De Castro as his running mate.

Santiago is a close ally of Villar. She has declared that if she were to seek reelection, she would do so under Villar?s party.

She said she did not think De Castro would stay on the sidelines in 2010.

De Castro, whose term ends in June, phoned the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday to say that he was carefully considering his options before making an announcement of his political plans.

?I still have many options. Why are you in such a hurry [to know my plans]?? he said in Filipino, adding that the elections were a long way off and that all aspiring candidates should focus on work.

De Castro has snubbed the invitation of Lakas-Kampi-CMD to sign up for membership and be its standard-bearer in next year?s polls despite Ms Arroyo?s virtual endorsement.

Asked why he declined the invitation of the ruling coalition, De Castro said he had his own reasons and would rather not reveal them.

Don?t count him out

?Watch out. He might just run for vice president ? I?m not at liberty to say, but I don?t think we can totally ignore him at this time,? Santiago told reporters.

After all, she pointed out, De Castro stated Wednesday that he had yet to make up his mind about next year after declaring that he did not want to run as an administration candidate.

In Santiago?s reckoning, De Castro will be a strong contender in the vice presidential race.

?He is already the incumbent and he has the critical mass of his own followers who are committed to him and are voting on the basis of his own popularity, and not the party,? she said.

The Constitution does not bar a vice president from seeking reelection.

VP or senator

Speaking with reporters, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile also said it was likely that De Castro would run for vice president again or for a seat in the Senate.

Enrile agreed that in the event De Castro became Villar?s running mate, they would make a strong team.

?But this will also be true in the case of Sen. Francis Escudero, or former President Joseph Estrada, or Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro teaming up with somebody,? he said.

Enrile said De Castro?s bowing out of the presidential race would be good news for Estrada and his Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

?Vice President Noli is the competitor of Estrada as far as the masa is concerned. If you follow the syllogism, that is favorable to the PMP,? said Enrile, himself a member of the party.

Nothing earthshaking

Other senators were not surprised at De Castro?s decision not to run in the Lakas-Kampi-CMD ticket.

Sen. Loren Legarda said De Castro?s announcement was not ?earthshaking? because everyone had been following in the news how he showed disinterest in seeking the top post.

Legarda said De Castro told her he was not running for president in a conversation during a plane ride to Cebu a few months ago.

Asked whether she thought De Castro would win should he seek reelection with another party, Legarda underscored the need for the administration machinery and cited the vice presidential race in 2004 where she lost to him.

?Who really won there?? said Legarda, who had maintained early on that she was cheated by the administration in that race.

4 contenders

Sen. Edgardo Angara said the opposition was not going to take in De Castro as a possible presidential candidate because it was already ?overcrowded? in the opposition ranks.

Angara said that should De Castro run for president without the administration, he had a slim chance of winning.

And with De Castro out of the picture, the presidential race will be a four-way contest if Estrada decides to pull out because of Sen. Panfilo Lacson?s damaging privilege speech early this week, Angara said.

?If he decides to withdraw from the race, I think he will reshape the battle lines,? Angara said of Estrada.

Angara said the four presidential contenders would likely be Villar of NP, Escudero or Legarda of the Nationalist People?s Coalition, Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party.