MANILA - Dismissing a Palace warning stating that he is barred from running again in May 2010, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Wednesday declared to thousands of his supporters gathered in Tondo in Manila that he will again run for the presidency.“Kaya po tinatanggap ko ang hamon at hiling ng ating mga kababayan upang ibalik ang dangal ng mga api, ng mga masang Pilipino, upang ibalik ang pag-asa sa mga mahihirap, upang ibalik ang tinig ng masang Pilipino. Kaya't ako, sumusumpa ako, na ako si Joseph Ejercito Estrada, ay lalahok sa susunod na halalan upang muling maglingkod sa masang Pilipino bilang Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,” said Estrada in a rally at Plaza Hernandez in Tondo.
Estrada, who is also an actor, won the presidency in 1998, but was ousted in a military-backed civilian revolt in January 2001, which led to the assumption of President Arroyo.
“This is the last performance of my life. And I will not fail you. Ito pong laban na ito ang magiging huling laban sa pelikula ng aking buhay. Nguni't ang magiging bida dito ay hindi ako kung hindi ang masang Pilipino,” said Estrada.
Estrada also announced his running mate will be Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.
“Ikinagagalak ko ring ipaalam na ang aming napiling maging susunod na bise presidente ay ang natatanging alkalde na kinikilalang isa sa pinakamagaling sa ating bansa,” Estrada told his supporters, citing Binay’s records and achievements as chief executive of the country’s premiere financial district.
The former president also announced that he will run under the banner of the United Opposition (UNO) coalition of his political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban or PDP-Laban.
He said that those who will be included in the senatorial lineup would be Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, his reelectionist son Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Makati City 1st district Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin, Aquillino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr..
Estrada said Pimentel was included in the lineup even though he has yet to decide if he would run due to a pending protest against Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri in the 2007 elections.
He also said guest candidates that would be adopted by the coalition would include Agusan Del Sur Rep. Rodolfo 'Ompong' Plaza and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago
Barred
A Palace official said on Wednesday that President Arroyo's grant of pardon to Joseph Estrada in 2007 contains a pre-condition that bars the former president from running again in May 2010.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told Palace reporters the pardon has a provision which says: "Whereas Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly committed to no longer seek any elective position or office."
Ermita believes that since this is a "whereas" clause, Estrada is prevented from running again for the presidency or from any public post.
Estrada agreed to the pardon after he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for plunder or large-scale corruption in 2007 following a six-year trial. He was charged with taking bribes from gambling lords and stealing from state coffers.
However, the grant of pardon also restores Estrada's civil and political rights, which means he can vote and seek an elective post.
The pardon says: "In view hereof and pursuant to the authority conferred upon me by the Constitution, I hereby grant executive clemency to Joseph Ejercito Estrada, convicted of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua. He is hereby restored his civil and political rights."
Ermita said it will be up to the courts to settle this legal issue.
Binay is running mate
Binay has earlier formally accepted Estrada's offer to be his running mate.
Binay said he has an edge over the other vice-presidential aspirants due to his track record in making Makati a prosperous city, after serving as its chief local executive for nearly 20 years.
He added he will campaign for empowerment of local governments, which, he believes, is the key to a progressive nation. He will also focus on the problems of poverty, lack of jobs, and fighting corruption.
Although he will be up against popular senators like Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II of the Liberal Party, and possibly Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Binay said he has the advantage when it comes to experience in governance.
He said the Senate is basically a debating club, while local officials like him are involved in enforcement of laws and implementation of projects.
Strong support from poor
Estrada still commands a sizeable following among the poor and those living in the countryside, who see in him the romantic folk hero of his box office successes, battling the rich and the corrupt. His nickname is Erap, a play on the word Pare, or buddy.
But Estrada remains a thorn in the side of the powerful church and of business leaders, who have worried about fiscal profligacy during his term in office and tales of a "midnight cabinet" of drinking and gambling buddies who influenced policy.
Traders have warned that prospects of an Estrada victory closer to the elections could spook financial markets.
"We want to have a new leader, not the old one, especially with a tainted record," said Astro del Castillo, managing director of the First Grade Holdings brokerage. "Investors will shy away if there is a candidate who has a poor track record and is not trusted by business."
Estrada has said the three main problems of the country that must be addressed are: ending insurgencies by Muslim and left-wing rebels, controlling the population increase, and removing corruption in government.
He has aged since his term in office. He said he smokes a pack a day, and enjoys French wine. Renowned for having a string of mistresses, Estrada has fathered 12 children.
Asked with how many women, he told Reuters last month: "That's private property, no trespassing." But he added: "I have borne children out of wedlock. My wife is not complaining, so you don't have to complain."
Winning next year's election would be a vindication, he said.
"One more chance and that's it. It's really the last performance of my life. I have no more ambition in life except that when I exit, I be remembered as the man who championed the cause of the masses." -- reports from Willard Cheng, Sheryll Mundo, ABS-CBN News, and Reuters
as of 10/21/2009 8:20 PM
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/21/09/last-performance-my-life-erap
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