Erap reunited with estranged friend Singson at mom’s wake

MANILA, Philippines – Deposed President Joseph Estrada and the man who played a key role in his ouster in 2001, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, appeared to have patched up their differences on Friday night when Singson visited the wake of Estrada's mother. Video footage aired by GMA's "24 Oras" newscast showed Estrada welcoming Singson and saying he had already forgiven his long-lost friend who accused him of collecting millions of pesos from the illegal numbers game jueteng. Singson’s allegations that he himself had been delivering jueteng money to Estrada led lawmakers to file an impeachment complaint against the president. When Estrada’s allies in the Senate voted not to open a supposedly incriminating envelope during the impeachment trial, prosecutors walked out, sparking a military-backed popular uprising in January 2001 that forced Estrada to resign. Singson became the star witness against Estrada, son Jinggoy, and wife Loi in the plunder and graft cases, respectively. Estrada was convicted of plunder in September 2007, but he was pardoned by President Arroyo a month later. Estrada and Singson had become sworn enemies since then, with Singson repeatedly using his influence on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to block attempts to treat Estrada with kid gloves as he fought plunder charges at the Sandiganbayan. The death of Estrada’s mother, Doña Mary Ejercito, gave the two former friends a good reason to reconcile. The two shook hands and Estrada even guided Singson in viewing the remains of his mother at the St. John the Baptist Chruch in Pinaglabanan, San Juan City. In an interview, Estrada said he has forgiven all the people who done him wrong in the past, including Singson. He said that for the sake of his mother, who will be laid to rest Saturday at the Ejercito Mausoleum at the San Juan Cemetery, all those who want to condole with the Ejercito family were welcome. "All those, including those people who had done me wrong, are welcome to condole with us," Estrada said. "As I have said long ago, I already forgiven those people who had done me wrong." Singson said he had asked Estrada’s son Jude if he could visit Dona Mary’s wake. Jude then asked his father, who allegedly gave his nod. But Estrada’s wife, former Sen. Loi Ejercito Estrada, and his son, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, said that they were not ready to patch up their differences with Singson. "I prefer that he will not come here yet. I think we are not yet ready for that," Loi said before Singson arrived. San Juan Mayor Ejercito, Estrada’s son with second wife Guia Imperial, was equally unforgiving. He said it would have been better if Singson did not make the visit. "I hope they will not use it [visit] for a political stunt," the younger Estrada added. Aside from Singson, other pro-administration politicians and former allies of Estrada who attended the wake of Doña Mary were presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. Also spotted in the wake were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and former Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta. Estrada last year sacked Lim as head of his political party, Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), because of a misunderstanding. Oreta left the Estrada camp in 2007 after she was not chosen for a slot in the opposition group’s senatorial slate. - GMANews.TV