Law student group backs Erap for president

CEBU, Philippines - About 600 law students from Cebu universities have signed a manifesto expressing “strong support” to the candidacy of former president Joseph Estrada for president in 2010.

The new group, Movement of the Youth for Empowerment, Reforms, Advocacy and Progress or MyErap, said “the recent malicious, unscrupulous and wanton attacks against Estrada is part of a vicious plan, orchestrated by the same group that conspired to oust him in 2001 to prevent his return to Malacañang.”

No less than Estrada’s son, JV Ejercito, attended the launch of the organization at Park Mall the other day.

The group dubs itself as a network of students and young professionals “who are sorry for the mistakes of 2001 and are for real empowerment, reform and progress.”

Ginno Jaralve, national spokesperson of MyErap, said that the group will also fight for clean and honest elections.

“We are unfazed and unmoved by whatever form of dirty tricks, propaganda, word pummels and smear campaign that have been and will be waged against President Estrada,” the manifesto reads.

The group said that they remain steadfast in supporting Estrada and are unwavering in their belief that majority of the Filipino people no longer buy the same old issues being recycled against the deposed president.

It is the group’s belief that Estrada, who was ousted from Malacañang through EDSA II, is only guilty of “standing by the masses against the wishes of the elite.”

They said Estrada is the only political leader that will “reload the youth’s hope and will restore the Filipino People’s dignity.”

“We, therefore, declare out full support for President Estrada as we vow to stand by him against the many attacks that come, and may continue to come his way,” the manifesto further reads.

Estrada himself said he is most likely to run should the opposition fail to unite. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)