Estrada: I’m under ‘housewife arrest’

Ousted President Joseph Estrada isn’t going anywhere, thanks in part to a house arrest order issued not by the government, but by his better half.

"How can I leave the country? I’m virtually under housewife arrest," he jokingly told reporters who were invited to his residence in Greenhills, San Juan last Friday. Former First Lady Luisa Ejercito and a handful of her husband’s former Cabinet members were also on hand during the interview.

Estrada was reacting to reports that he was seeking permission from the Arroyo administration to travel to the US. His son Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said the other day his father needs to undergo a long-scheduled surgery on his glaucoma in Boston, Massachusetts next month.

The former president quipped that Mrs. Ejercito is the happiest person in the world, now that he has left Malacañang.

"Doctora is extremely happy because she can have me all to herself," he said while looking at the direction of his amused wife.

It’s no secret that the movie star-turned politician has several mistresses with whom he has sired almost a dozen children.

In between pops of butong pakwan, Mr. Estrada also joked about his "unemployed" status.

He pointed across the table to his similarly jobless friends – former Cabinet men who now spend their time keeping him company. Present that day were former Health Secretary Alfredo Romualdez, former Energy Secretary Mario Tiaoqui and former Public Works Secretary Gregorio Vigilar.

Over dinner, the former President cracked more jokes, smoked China-made Panda cigarettes and offered drinks.

"We are all jobless now, so I guess it’s alright to have wine," he said, adding he had not had Scotch, his favorite drink, since he took office as President.

"Now I have more time for God," he said. "It’s very hard to be President."

Mr. Estrada admitted, however, that he misses those days at the Palace when reporters would corner him for interviews, and how he would refute allegations raised against him by his critics.

He noted that there has been no let-up to the Erap-bashing, only this time, he has not been given a chance to air his side.

What keeps him busy in the last three weeks since his ouster, he said, was his regular meetings with lawyers, who have already filed a quo warranto petition with the Supreme Court to question the legitimacy of President Arroyo’s assumption into office.

Mr. Estrada handed out to reporters copies of that petition, which were in pamphlet form and translated into Filipino for the benefit of the masa he has long been identified with.