Former president’s son confirms Estrada-Binay tandem for 2010 polls

October 13, 2009 17:59:00
Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net


MANILA, Philippines - It’s confirmed. Former President Joseph Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay will run for president and vice president , respectively, in 2010.

Estrada’s son, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, made the disclosure Tuesday noon, just hours after Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile told an interview that the Estrada-Binay tandem was almost a “done-deal.

“Confirmed,” said Senator Estrada when asked about the tandem.

He said his father and Binay will make the formal announcement on October 21 in Tondo, where the former president was born.

The decision, he said, was reached several weeks ago and the two were supposed to make the announcement on October 14 but decided to postpone it in deference to victims of recent typhoons in the country.

The Estrada- Binay tandem, the senator said, is a “force to reckon with.”

Senator Estrada said Binay was chosen by his father over Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who, he said, has “opted to run for president,” and Senator Loren Legarda, who is reportedly Escudero’s running mate next year.

“In fairness to Mayor Binay, he’s improved in surveys,” the young Estrada said.

Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) will also field a full senatorial ticket to be headed by Enrile, Senator Estrada, and guest candidates like Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Makati Representative Teodoro Locsin, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, Grace Poe, daughter of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., and detained military officer Brigadier General Danilo Lim.

The party was also trying to get actor Edu Manazano in the slate, said the senator.

“Siyam pa lang (Nine so far)…So we’re reserving two to three slots in case we’re going to form a coalition or an alliance,” he added.


Source: http://politics.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&article=20091013-229868