Yearender: Erap fails to unite opposition

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada made good his promise and decided to run for president in the 2010 elections, after the opposition candidates failed to unite and support a common candidate.

Some of his critics, however, are not buying his contention that he was compelled to run for president anew because of his failure to unite the opposition behind a single presidential candidate.

As early as October 2007 or immediately after his release from jail following President Arroyo’s grant of pardon, Estrada has engaged in what he dubbed as “Lakbay Pasasalamat” supposedly to thank the Filipino people who had given him their unconditional support.

Since then, Estrada has traveled from one province to another and managed to visit 63 of the more than 80 provinces all over the country.

Estrada said the opposition must field only one presidential candidate to avoid being cheated again in 2010.

He said his friend, the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., ran and lost to Mrs. Arroyo because the opposition fielded several candidates in 2004, making it easy for the administration to cheat them.

Unfazed by threats of disqualification, Estrada accompanied by thousands of supporters and a brass band as well as his running mate, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and his senatorial candidates, filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections last Nov. 30, the birth anniversary of national hero Andres Bonifacio.

Estrada said he and his battery of legal luminaries are ready to defend his contention that there is no legal impediment for him to run for president again in 2010.

“We are prepared for that. We got the services of legal luminaries, retired justices and the dean of different law schools. We have been studying that for almost one year and they are one in saying I’m very much qualified to run,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he has only served for two years and a half and the ban on reelection does not apply to him.

“To tell you frankly, I have only served for two years and a half. I was ousted illegally. In my opinion, any incumbent president who had finished six years and wants to serve more than the term limit, the ban on reelection applies. The Constitution bans reelection on the incumbent president to prevent her from having undue advantage over her opponent because she has all the government resources,” Estrada said.

To lend truth to his slogan that he is “Para sa Mahirap” (for the poor), Estrada drove a jeepney with Binay, their senatorial candidates and political advisers when they filed their COCs.

Estrada said he ran again to repay his debt of gratitude to the poor who had given him and his family their unconditional support even during his incarceration.

“I am in the twilight of my life. I want to spend it by serving the poor Filipino masses and finish my unfinished pro-poor program which I failed to do after I was unceremoniously and unconstitutionally removed from the presidency in 2001,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he also wants to be remembered as the man who championed the cause of the poor.

“I have always said that in the twilight of my life, I just want to be remembered as the man who championed the cause of the Filipino masses. Senator (Sergio) Osmeña is one of the few senators that I respect because I have seen that he is someone who will likewise work towards this cause. That is why I have invited and welcome him as our guest candidate on unconditional terms, because I sincerely want to support his candidacy,” Estrada said.

As expected, petitions seeking Estrada’s disqualification from the presidential race were filed, including one by lawyer Oliver Lozano immediately after Estrada filed his certificate of candidacy.

Three more petitions to disqualify Estrada were filed by nuisance presidential candidate Elly Pamatong, Mary Lou Estrada and Evillo Pormento.

Estrada expressed confidence that the Comelec will not disqualify him and “bring to life the true essence of our democracy and let the people decide” in 2010.