BY DENNIS GADIL

SEN. Panfilo Lacson yesterday declared his intention to run in 2010 but is undecided if it is for the presidency.

Lacson, responding to a question in a TV interview if he will be running for president, said: "The more appropriate question is, do you have intention to run. My answer is, yes, but I have not decided to gun for the presidency in 2010."

Lacson won a fresh but last Senate term in 2007. He can run for an elective post in 2010 without losing his Senate seat.

Lacson contested the presidency in 2004 but lost.

"At the proper time two more important considerations should present themselves, opportunity and means," Lacson said.

Lacson said he does not have the "billions" needed to mount a campaign, but having the resources is not enough to clinch the presidency.

"Resources are not really a big factor when it comes to perception. People may perceive you as having the means to run a campaign but can perceive you as a non-winnable candidate," Lacson said.

Former President Joseph Estrada has said a presidential candidate needs at least P5 billion but he said he spent below P2 billion and still won in 1998.

Lacson said those who have topped recent surveys on presidential aspirants are now experiencing a dip in rankings.

"(Sen.) Loren (Legarda) had been leading the surveys. She started very strong, I think 32-36 percent, (Vice President) Noli (de Castro) 21 percent. I got 19 percent, (Senate President Manny) Villar 9 percent and then (Sen.) Mar (Roxas). In the second survey I overtook Noli, Loren went down to 29 percent. I was up to 19 percent from 17 percent, and Noli was 18 percent. Single digits for Manny and Mar," Lacson said.

He, however, admitted that Villar and Roxas are perceived as frontrunners because of their resources and as heads two major political parties.

Lacson said Legarda and Roxas are getting hammered even if they have not publicly announced their intention.

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered. Maybe Mar doesn’t want to get hammered at this point. Nevertheless he’s being hammered because of perceptions he is posturing to run in 2010. That’s unavoidable," he said.

Lacson said as president, he would see to it that his family and his Cabinet would sign a waiver exempting themselves from the Bank Secrecy Act.

"Once you enter government service, you should be ready to be transparent and (be) scrutinized para di ka ma-tempt magnakaw. Automatically, you should sign a waiver on Day 1 and if the elected president takes the lead in signing that waiver I think the Cabinet secretaries will follow," he said.