Noynoy Aquino says Cory's apology was a joke

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino on Monday night said that his mother's so-called apology to ousted President Joseph "Erap" Estrada was a joke. "I understand that it was in response to President Erap's humorous quip at Speaker JDV (Jose de Venecia) and should be taken in the same light,"Noynoy said in a text message to GMANews.TV. He did not elaborate. It was not clear if the senator was present at the event which his mother - former President Corazon Aquino - attended. Three former Presidents – Aquino, Estrada and Fidel Ramos – dropped by at the launching of the “Global Filipino" book written by de Venecia. Others who dropped by the event were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, former Senate Presidents Ernesto Maceda and Franklin Drilon, former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod, former BSP chief Gabriel Singson, former DTI chief Jose Pardo, former Ambassador Roy Seneres, Pastor “Boy" Saycon, former Defense Minister Fortunato Abat, House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, film producer German Moreno, among others. Aquino said in that event that she had no intention to attend were it not for Gina de Venecia, the wife of the ex-speaker. “I’m here principally because of my good friend Gina. How could I say no to Gina? Masuwerte ka Joe. I think there are many of us here because of Gina. You are very lucky to have a better half like her," she said. Cory thanks JDV Aquino also told the huge crowd at Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City that she made herself available to thank de Venecia for "coming out" . “Pumunta ako dahil gusto ko ipakita kay Joe ang pasasalamat na nakikiisa na siya sa atin ngayon," she added. “Thank you Joe for coming out at last. So, I say it’s better late than never. Sana lahat tayo ay magkaisa." who was booted out of office last February after his son Joey exposed the $329 million ZTE anomaly, Erap jokes Estrada, for his part, thanked the five-time speaker, for being a “gentleman and statesman" when de Venecia conceded defeat in the 1998 presidential polls. However, Estrada said that reading de Venecia's book was a headache. “Title pa lang, mahabang mahaba na. I had a headache reading it. But I suspect Malacanang had a bigger headache (reading it)," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd that included dignitaries. “I would say that JDV is a man of conviction just like me. The only difference is that I was convicted (of plunder). So my advice to him is wait for your turn, if he wants to be a man of certified conviction," Estrada said, chuckling. The actor-turned-president described his and de Venecia’s checkered political careers as "connected.' He cited his ouster from power in January, 2001 and de Venecia’s ouster seven years later as Speaker. “My political career is connected with JDV, whether he likes it or not. I’m impressed with his amazing journey as a politician," Estrada said. Estrada also joked that de Venecia’s loss in the 1998 presidential polls was a “blessing in disguise" for him. “Had he (de Venecia) won, he might have been the one impeached!" Estrada said. “Today, I give JDV my full and absolute pardon. This is my exercise of executive privilege," he said, urging the former Speaker to write maybe a second or third book. “I hope you will not hold back so that you can be called a man of conviction," Estrada added, apparently referring to the possibility that de Venecia may also be charged and spend some time in detention.- GMANews.TV