Estrada bared his "tentative" slate yesterday, pointing out the candidates were presented after consultations with party leaders of his Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), PDP-Laban, Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Pusyon Bisaya, the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and other parties nationwide.
The draft candidates list includes House Minority Leader Francis Escudero, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, former senators Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, Loren Legarda, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, John Osmeña, and Vicente "Tito" Sotto; San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito; re-electionist Senators Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto and Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.
Estrada pointed out the slate is composed of figures from the major opposition political parties as well as those who figured prominently in his ouster in 2001.
In a statement, Estrada said some of his known political rivals were included in the slate after he had already forgiven them.
Honasan led the list even as the former senator is still the subject of a manhunt by the authorities for his involvement in a coup attempt against President Arroyo.
Legarda, on the other hand, still has a pending election protest against Vice President Noli de Castro before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
She was among the 10 senators who voted to open the "second envelop" said to contain the evidence against Estrada during the botched impeachment trial at the Senate in 2000.
The voting over the second envelop, which was defeated by a vote, triggered the walkout of prosecutors in the impeachment trial and the resignation of Pimentel as Senate president.
This triggered the events that eventually led to the second EDSA revolution that ousted Estrada in January 2001.
Pangilinan, Recto and Villar ran under the administration slate in the 2004 elections.
Villar, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives, started the impeachment of Estrada when he banged his gavel, signaling the historic transmission of the impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial.
Estrada said he has set aside his own feelings in consideration of the greater welfare of the country and people to unite the opposition and help them win over the Arroyo administration.
Estrada confirmed his son, the San Juan mayor, will run for the Senate, not his wife Sen. Luisa Ejercito whose term ends next year.
The former president added he will also iron out the reported rift between JV Ejercito and his other son Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada.
"Kaya kong ayusin ang dalawa dahil wala akong karapatan na maging isang lider kung ang sarili kong mga anak ay hindi ko mapasunod sa akin (I have to settle the differences between my two sons. I have no right to be a leader if I could not even settle the disputes in my family)," he said.
Estrada said re-electionist Sen. Panfilo Lacson was dropped from the original list of since the incumbent senator does not have a political party to represent.
Lacson claims to lead a faction in the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) led by Sen. Edgardo Angara.
Estrada stressed the opposition only recognizes the LDP-Angara wing.
Estrada added he could not ascertain if Lacson will be running for re-election or would run in the mayoralty race in Manila.
The former leader stressed the list remains tentative and could be subject to last-minute changes.
Estrada said the main consideration for any possible change would be the candidate’s "winnability" and party unity, taking into account the primordial interest of the country and people.
For his part, Ejercito confirmed his plans to run for the Senate and replace Senator Ejercito, Jinggoy’s mom, who plans to retire from politics and spend more time with the family.
The San Juan mayor, the former president’s son with former actress Guia Gomez, said he would fill in the void for the slot in the opposition slate after Senator Ejercito said she would retire from politics in June 2007.
Ejercito expressed his gratitude to his father for choosing him.
"I always respect the wisdom of my father. I am very thankful to my father for having chosen me to fill in the void," J.V. said. — With Sandy Araneta