Jinggoy included in KNP lineup

Former San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada and former ambassador Ernesto Maceda have joined the senatorial ticket of action star Fernando Poe Jr. under the banner of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).

Estrada filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila at 6:30 last night while Maceda also submitted his certificate of candidacy late yesterday.

Poe reportedly asked the two to fill up the slots vacated by Sen. John Osmeña and former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Estrada was accompanied by his wife, Precy, his mother, Sen. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, his three children, and siblings Jacqueline Ejercito-Lopez and Jude.

"I asked my father’s advise regarding FPJ’s offer, and he said he is willing to support me," he said.

Maceda said the last-minute defection of some opposition senatorial candidates to the pro-administration coalition will not affect Poe’s presidential candidacy.

"The people are angry at defectors," he said.

"I do not know how to quantify that but the defection will not affect the presidential position.

"In the case of FPJ, those under him would improve their chances of winning, but in the case of President Arroyo, she will rely on the people running with her," Maceda said.

He said he does not mind being a "second choice" for the KNP senatorial slate, as long as the opposition attains its objective.

"What is important is that FPJ and the party got what it needed," he said. "Actually it was a choice between serving in the Cabinet of Poe or joining the Senate, so it is not an issue of being a second choice."

Meanwhile, Heherson Alvarez, national spokesman of the ruling Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), said yesterday he will still pursue his senatorial bid as an independent.

When contacted by The STAR, Alvarez could not conceal his disappointment over his exclusion from the senatorial ticket of the pro-administration Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) in favor of allies of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

As of yesterday afternoon, Alvarez said he was consulting his political supporters and would file his certificate of candidacy as an independent before midnight yesterday, the last day of filing.

Alvarez, who will also have to give up his post of presidential adviser for overseas Filipino communities, deplored Mrs. Arroyo and her political advisers for taking in the Lakas senatorial slate "personalities who composed the anti-impeachment forces of EDSA Dos."

Alvarez was referring to Osmena and Estrada’s defense secretary Orlando Mercado.

Officials said Mrs. Arroyo deliberately left the 12th senatorial slot vacant for Santiago should she decide to accept the invitation to join the pro-administration ticket.

Mrs. Arroyo filed her certificate of candidacy yesterday, together with her running mate, Sen. Noli de Castro, and the 11 senatorial candidates of the pro-administration K-4 coalition.

Asked is he was willing to fill in the 12th K-4 senatorial slot should Santiago opt to run as Lacson’s vice presidential running mate, Alvarez replied: "I am not even considering that scenario."

"I’m afraid we are losing our commitment to the principles of EDSA II, which brought this administration to power," he said.

However, Alvarez said he could consider accepting a Cabinet post if he decides not to run for the Senate.

The K-4’s senatorial line-up include re-electionists Robert Barbers, Rodolfo Biazon, Robert Jaworski and Osmeña; Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon and former Trade and Industry secretary Manuel Roxas II; Gov. Parouk Hussin of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mercado, lawyer Pia Cayetano, Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid and Videogram Regulatory Board chairman Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. — Jose Aravilla, Sammy Santos, Marichu Villanueva