Erap still undecided on presidential candidate

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday that he would just pick from different political parties the senatorial candidates that he will endorse for the 2016 elections.

In a press conference at City Hall, Estrada also said that he still has not decided on who to endorse among Vice President Jejomar Binay, Sen. Grace Poe, former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for the presidential election in 2016.

“We will just hand pick the senatorial candidates in each political party. The PMP (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) has no official candidates for the national elections. So far, I have endorsed only three: Rep. Neri Colmenares, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno,” Estrada said.

Estrada said that he would meet with Moreno and 31 incumbent city councilors to decide who to endorse for senator in 2016.

Estrada said PMP has not yet discussed any coalition with other political parties, including the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Binay.

UNA was originally a coalition of Estrada’s PMP and Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Binay is now running under the UNA banner.

Estrada and Binay ran for president and vice president, respectively, under UNA in 2010.

Estrada said that he is having a hard time choosing his presidential candidate.

“All of them are close to me. Binay is my kumpadre. Grace is my goddaughter. Roxas was one of my best Cabinet secretaries and Duterte is my friend. He used to live in San Juan when he was still a law student,” Estrada said.

“We will think hard about it. We will look at it thoroughly. And whoever has similar platform of governance with me, that will be the one I will endorse. I will make the announcement when they finally file their certificates of candidacy,” Estrada said.

Estrada said that he easily endorsed Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as his candidate for vice president because Manila owed many things to the Marcoses.

He said that picking Marcos for vice president instead of Sen. Francis Escudero is his freedom of choice.

Estrada said that his endorsement of Marcos should not be taken against him by any of the other vice presidential candidates and the public.

“In 2010 elections, he (Escudero) chose Noy-Bi (Noynoy Aquino-Jejomar Binay). I was candidate (for president) then. He is my godson. I did not get mad. So, he should also give me the freedom of choice,” Estrada said.

Estrada said Marcos is one of the new breed of competent leaders who can fulfill the duties of vice president.

“Manileños know how to pay debt of gratitude,” Estrada said.