Erap to Koko: Forgive and forget

MANILA, Philippines - Former president Estrada told Senator Koko Pimentel that he should learn how to forgive and forget.

He recalled how he had been a victim of cheating when he first ran as mayor of San Juan in the late 1960s.

“But I forgive those who cheated me and even accommodated his son when he sought the mayoral post in San Juan at the time that I became senator in 1987,” Estrada shared.

Estrada said he wants to sit down with Pimentel within the next two weeks so that they could thresh out his concerns about former senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri as soon as possible.

Pimentel, however, has yet to set a date reportedly due to his busy schedule.

“I’m still waiting for the re-scheduling of our one-on-one meeting,” Estrada said.

Estrada reiterated that he and the members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) would respect whatever will be Pimentel’s decision.

“We leave it up to him to decide. But UNA will not divide as long as Vice President Binay, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and I remained intact,” Estrada stressed.

According to Estrada, he values both Zubiri and Pimentel because they have shown high quality as lawmakers.

He maintained that Zubiri, whom he personally endorsed, was accepted by Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and UNA because of his untainted image.

“He (Zubiri) might be a beneficiary of the cheatings in the 2007 elections, but he was not part of it. He made a good gesture when he resigned, although taking four years of Pimentel’s term, when he learned about the 2007 election cheatings,” Estrada noted.

Estrada added he wants to see Zubiri and Pimentel running under UNA in next year’s midterm elections.