PMP to field Erap as presidential bet?

MANILA, Philippines – Is the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) reserving a slot for the third presidential run of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in the 2016 general elections?

Romel Mendoza, secretary general of the Kalipunan ng Masang Pilipino (Kampil) which is allied with the PMP, has filed his certificate of candidacy for the coming polls.

A highly placed source yesterday said Mendoza is not a “nuisance” candidate and Estrada will not have any legal problem should he decide to be Mendoza’s substitute candidate.

Estrada is the titular head of the PMP.

“Romel Mendoza was duly nominated by the PMP, with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada signing his certificate of nomination. The PMP is a duly recognized major political party that has participated in elections since its creation,” the source said.

On its website, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has named Mendoza as one of the independent presidential candidates for the May 2016 polls.

“The PMP is putting up a team of legal luminaries to defend the legitimacy of the candidacy of Mendoza,” the source said.

Estrada has maintained that his focus at present is his reelection bid. He, however, said he will run for the country’s highest position if his goddaughter, Sen. Grace Poe, and his friend and ally, Vice President Jejomar Binay, are both disqualified from the presidential race.

“If that happens, I will run again for president to preserve democracy in our country. We will lose democracy in our country if the opposition will not have a presidential candidate,” Estrada said.

Substitution of candidates for president can still be done until Dec. 10.

Estrada earlier endorsed Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vice presidential bid.

“Unlike Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, if ever Mayor Estrada will substitute for Mendoza, he already has a complete line-up – from vice president to the 12 senatorial candidates,” the source said.

The PMP has endorsed several candidates in past elections, including Estrada, who has served as senator, vice president and president, and Senators Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Juan Ponce Enrile, Nancy Binay and Poe.