The Erap magic was clearly alive and well yesterday as former President Joseph Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay formally declared their candidacies for president and vice president, respectively, with energetic thousands in attendance in Tondo.Estrada supporters and leaders from Metro Manila and the provinces all over showed their support to the former President and his chosen vice presidential bet.
Estrada accepted the nomination for the presidency amid cheers from his supporters.
He began his acceptance speech by acknowledging the victims of the twin typhoons who must be helped, as they have been left with nothing by way of their meager possessions.
He spoke of the crisis the Filipinos face today: The crisis in the economy, in rice and, more importantly, the nation, he said, is now facing a crisis of truth.
He hit out at the elite in society, whom he accused of having demonized him and ousted him, with their claims that with Estrada out of Malacañang, the government would be run efficiently by Gloria Arroyo, the elite society’s anointed; that the economy would improve considerably, and there would be no more corruption.
He pointed out that the facts today show that the economy is in worse straits; that corruption is worse, with so many scandals attached to them and with public money pocketed by the administration officials.
Estrada accused the government and the elite forces in society of having spewed so many lies and continue to spew more lies against him.
He spoke of his many successes in Mindanao against the Muslim insurgents, reminding the crowd that it was during his presidency that the government forces recovered the many Moro Islamic Liberation Front-controlled camps. He said that to have peace in Mindanao, there must first be an all-out war against the insurgents, adding that there can only be one Philippines for all Filipinos.
The campaign speech of both Estrada and Binay clearly pitted the poor against the elite, which resonated among the poor in the audience.
Estrada stressed that if all the charges lodged against him by the Arroyo administration and the elite civil society of his having stolen public money, he would not have the nerve to face the Filipino people, adding that even after he was ousted, he was offered by President Arroyo to leave the country and settle in another country of his choice, while the plunder charges against him would no longer be brought to court.
He rejected the offer twice, and suffered the humiliation of being charged, arrested and jailed for over six years, then convicted of plunder. He was pardoned by Gloria, with an absolute pardon.
Estrada, in his speech said that if he were guilty, he would have left the country when offered, but that apart from being innocent of the charges, he could not leave the Filipino masses who never wavered in their support for him, and vowed that he would never leave them either and would continue to fight for them.
Binay, in a fiery acceptance speech, said he and Estrada are the experienced team and can rest on their record, stressing that while there are many presidential candidates today gunning for the top post, they cannot boast of having any experience in running the country or even their provinces and cities.
He added that which is needed today in governance is an experienced and capable team, which is his and Estrada’s team.
There was the stress, in their speeches of their continued fight for the poor, and that they have remained loyal to the masses, whom Estrada empowered when he was in Malacañang, but that the empowered masses were robbed of their power when the elite civil society staged a coup d’etat against the Estrada government and their right to elect their choice of leaders.
Binay spoke of the challenges of rebuilding a country mismanaged for eight years and weighed down by corruption at the highest level of government that would require leaders with executive experience and real concern for the poor.
Binay was proclaimed the running mate of former President Joseph Estrada during the nominating convention of the United Opposition (UNO) at Plaza Amado Hernandez in Tondo, Manila attended by thousands of opposition leaders and supporters.
In accepting the nomination for vice president, Binay said that “the urgent task of lifting the people from poverty and hunger, making government work for the people and ending corruption should not be entrusted to untested leaders who are not sincere in helping the poor.”
As the president’s qualities are, Binay said the vice president should also possess the experience and capability to implement effective social programs, citing Makati’s successful programs in education, health, and welfare assistance in times of calamities.
”We possess the experience and capability to respond to crisis. We do not evade responsibility. We do not keep quiet, and we do not leave the country in times of crisis and difficulties,” he said, referring to himself and Estrada who both served as mayors and taking a shot at Arroyo who was out of the country when a typhoon raged in the province.
“We know and we are ready to address the needs of the people for a new leadership that is competent, capable and cares for the poor,” he said.
Binay said the full implementation of President Estrada’s pro-poor program was derailed when he was forcibly removed from power in 2001.
The 2010 elections will be an opportunity to continue the former president’s programs and the return of power to the masses,” he added.
The Makati mayor was nominated by three Makati residents who cited Binay’s education, senior citizen and health programs as proof of his executive skills and concern for the underprivileged.
For his part, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco, introduced Binay as a respected local executive, having been chosen in 2006 as one of the Top 10 Mayors of the World, ranking fourth worldwide and first in Asia.
He cited Binay’s roots growing up in poverty, and supporting himself through college by taking on odd jobs.
As an oppositionist, Tiangco said the Arroyo administration had tried but failed to suspend Binay on trumped up charges. “Mayor Binay has always served at the frontlines of the struggle for truth and justice for the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday said Estrada’s aspiration to run for office and reclaim the presidency that once belonged to him was something that everyone already saw coming.
“I think we have heard enough. We have read enough about the plans of former President Estrada. I don’t see why there should be any surprises about his plan to declare publicly what he plans to do. I mean, what difference would it make? From what he had said many times over, I’m talking about the planned convention—if it’s a convention or rally-- whatever the word, for me, there really is nothing new as far as the aspirations of former President Estrada (are concerned)...so, I don’t think I could comment more on the subject matter),” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita when asked for a Palace position.
Ermita, however, reminded reporters that Estrada’s candidacy still drew a lot of side comments from other schools of thoughts with regard to his eligibility given the fact that he was ousted from presidency in 2001 due to mounting accusations of corruption let alone the guilty verdict he had for plunder couple of years ago.
He did not mention arguments raised by other experts and political analysts that Estrada’s ejection from office was something deemed as unconstitutional.
Ermita cited the “whereas clause” under the pardon Arroyo gave him, one month after Sandiganbayan brought down its ruling, as something that could be taken into account by other concerned citizens.
“In the end, everything will have to be settled judicially. In the end, whatever he wishes to do—and I’m sure the good former president—is advised by people around him. But of course, there will be citizens who will come out in the open; questioning his certificate of candidacy, and therefore, they might bring this matter to the court—maybe in the highest court, I do not know. But, what I’m only saying is, somehow there has got to be a judicial remedy to this to end any speculation as to whether it’s alright for him to run or not to run.Let’s leave it to the court),” Ermita said.
Ermita added that it was hard for him to state that the pardon which Mrs. Arroyo gave to him was conditional because he was certain making such statement would be contested, and therefore, he would rather that such matter be left to legal practitioners to discuss and debate upon. With Aytch S. Dela Cruz
Source: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091022hed1.html
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