GMA can still improve as woman president – Loren

DAVAO CITY – Former Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday said there is still room for improvement so Mrs. Arroyo can become a better president.

"There is still room for improvement for the President," Legarda said as the country celebrated International Women’s Day. Legarda also gave Mrs. Arroyo "plus and minus" points as the country’s top woman leader.

"It would be plus and minus – and that is while the economy is doing ‘okay’ based on statistics. These economic gains need to trickle down to the people," said Legarda, who arrived here Wednesday for the three-day sortie of the Genuine Opposition’s senatorial candidates in Southern Mindanao.

Legarda said the President should bring the gains of the fiscal reforms at the macroeconomic level down to the broader base of the population.

"I believe that she is doing okay as a woman leader," Legarda said of Mrs. Arroyo. "But, while she is a hard worker, there are also several other issues that need to be addressed in the country, including the issue of human rights violations."

To celebrate women’s day, Legarda went to Tagum City in Davao del Norte, where she met with local women leaders.

Sonia Roco, the widow of former Sen. Raul Roco, questions the morality of the President as a woman leader: "What is questionable with her is her morality."

"I do not want to limit this campaign to the issue that it (lies) between former President (Joseph) Estrada and Mrs. Arroyo. This should be (about) what is best for the Filipino people," Legarda added.

She said she is also giving the administration the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the issue of whether the Arroyo administration is using government resources in campaigning for the Team Unity’s 12 senatorial candidates.

This developed as Legarda reportedly topped a recent survey commissioned by Malacañang from Feb. 24 to 27, which was taken from a sample of 1,500 respondents nationwide. The survey was said to have been undertaken by an American polling firm.

Legarda garnered 62 percent followed by Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., with 49 percent, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, 46 percent; Sen. Panfilo Lacson, 45 percent; Sen. Edgardo Angara, 35 percent; Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero, 35 percent; former Senator Tito Sotto, 31 percent; former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, 30 percent; Sen. Joker Arroyo, 28 percent and Sonia Roco, 28 percent.