Erap vows to stay out of Senate slate fray

Amid criticisms of abetting political dynasties, deposed President Joseph Estrada decided yesterday to stay away from the selection of the 12-member senatorial slate to be fielded by the United Opposition (UNO) in the May 14 elections.

Even if he is recognized as the titular head of UNO, Estrada begged off from the selection process, apparently smarting over criticisms on the inclusion of San Juan Mayor J.V. Ejercito, his son by retired actress Guia Gomez, in the UNO Senate ticket.

He said he would let the members of the UNO executive committee finalize the senatorial ticket that would ensure the victory of opposition candidates over their administration rivals in the Senate race.

"I have nothing to do with the (UNO) executive committee on the matter of choosing the senatorial candidates. I will be biased for J.V.," Estrada pointed out.

"So, I’m withdrawing from the selection of the Senate slate. It’s now up to the executive committee," Estrada told The STAR.

The UNO executive committee is composed of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay for the PDP-Laban; former senator Ernesto Maceda for the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. as chief of the Nacionalista Party (NP); Sen. Franklin Drilon, president of the Liberal Party (LP); former agrarian reform secretary Horacio Morales as president of Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. as representative of civil society.

Estrada disclosed yesterday former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani is their latest recruit to the opposition ranks. He said Shahani, who resigned from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party headed by her elder brother, former President Fidel Ramos, will be the "unifier" of UNO. Ramos is known to be supportive of Mrs. Arroyo.

"She (Shahani) is a brilliant, intelligent and dignified woman. She’s most welcome to unify the UNO. She’s an asset to any organization," Estrada said.

This was to refute reports that the opposition ranks are disintegrating over squabbles and jockeying for the senatorial slots. Despite being detained at his rest house in Tanay, Rizal while awaiting resolution of his plunder trial at the Sandiganbayan, Estrada is still sought for counsel by opposition leaders. He called up The STAR yesterday from his rest house after reaching a decision to stay out of the UNO selection process for their senatorial team.

Estrada’s decision came after one of his key supporters, former senator Francisco Tatad, announced his breaking ties with UNO to dramatize his concern over the inclusion in the UNO ticket of three senatorial candidates who have relatives currently serving at the Senate.

The name of Mayor Ejercito, half brother of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, is among those being lined up in the UNO Senate slate. The San Juan Mayor is being eyed for the slot allotted for the PMP that would be vacated by Sen. Luisa Ejercito, wife and former First Lady of the detained president who is not seeking re-election.

"Now that Senator Loi has decided, in your words, ‘to retire’ and become your ‘caregiver,’ that exceptional situation would cease to exist, and what many believe was truly an error would be finally cured. But were the President to inflict his other son, J.V. Ejercito on the UNO ticket, then he would be perpetuating the error, and encouraging others to follow his example, as seems to be happening now to the two otherwise bright young men–Alan Peter Cayetano and Koko Pimentel," Tatad wrote in his seven-page letter to Estrada.

Aside from the San Juan mayor, the two other candidates in the UNO Senate ticket being scored over political dynasty issue are, namely, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, younger brother of Sen. Pia Cayetano, and, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, son and namesake of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

"I still respect and I have only high regard for Senator Tatad. But our top priority is to put together and get winnable candidates. Having relatives is just incidental. What we’re after is winnability," Estrada said.

"It just so happens that Koko, Alan, and J.V. have relatives at the Senate. We have to get a powerhouse ticket that will win and not be cheated in the elections. There’s no substitute (for) victory, as the late Carlos P. Romulo once said," Estrada pointed out.

Estrada argued that the three UNO senatorial candidates are among those rating high in opinion surveys of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations.

"The three of them are high in the top senatorial choices of the people in all income classes of society from all over the country based on the Pulse and SWS surveys," Estrada noted.

"The best judge is the surveys. These are the voices of the people. Why should we get candidates who would lose?" he stressed.

Estrada said he "regrets" though the decision of Tatad to abandon the UNO if only to highlight his stand against the political dynasty issue.

"His (Tatad) arguments are valid. I hope he would reconsider his decision to get out of the UNO. I still consider him a good friend and a principled man," Estrada said.