Aircraft, vans proof that Erap will run again in 2010 - Enrile

With two choppers, a King Air turboprop aircraft and at least 20 vans, there is no doubt former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is running in next year's elections. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a close ally of Estrada, on Sunday made this statement as he noted that other prospective presidential bets now placing advertisements in radio and TV would have trouble matching up with Estrada. “[Meron siyang] dalawang chopper, isang fixed-wing 350 na King Air, 20 vans for political campaign.. Kung di pa proof yan na tatakbo, ewan ko na lang kung anong kailangang ebidensya na tatakbo. Tatakbo 'yan," he told Nimfa Ravelo in an interview on dzBB radio. [He has two choppers, one 350 fixed-wing King Air aircraft, and 20 vans for political campaign. If that is not proof that he will run, I don’t know what other evidence you will need for him to run. He will run.] Enrile, chairman emeritus of Estrada's Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party, described the two choppers as French-made Aerospatiales. The Aircraft Charter World Web site described the Beech King Air 350 as having a passenger capacity of up to 11, and up to 550 pounds luggage. It said the aircraft is capable of landing at 95 percent of all U.S. airports, and most others worldwide. The Web site controller.com listed the prices of a 2009 King Air at $6.6 million; and a 2008 King Air at $5.775 million. Estrada won the presidency in 1998 but was deposed in 2001 following a corruption scandal. He was convicted of plunder in 2007 but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Estrada, a former actor, has offered to run for president in 2010 if the opposition did not unite and field a single candidate to challenge the administration standard bearer. Enrile ran in the 2004 elections under Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) before quitting his posts as president of PMP and declaring himself an “independent" in the Senate.
Erap consults top lawyers on possible candidacy Can he run? Whether or not Estrada can run again for president is still the subject of heated debate. At least two delegates who drafted the 1987 Constitution - Fr. Joaquin Bernas and Christian Monsod - said the Charter prohibits a second chance for Estrada. Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution states that, “The President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time." But Estrada’s camp argues that the constitutional ban on the reelection of presidents only applies to “sitting presidents" running again following the end of their term and those who have completed their terms. At least two arguments are being raised by those who favor Estrada’s reelection. The first is defining reelection in Article VII, Section 4 of the Constitution as election immediately following the end of the term of a President. And because Estrada did not run immediately following the end of his term, he could be allowed to run again. The second argument is that Estrada can run again because he was not able to finish his six-year term. At present, Estrada is consulting some of the country's top legal luminaries on the legality of his possible reelection. Among these legal experts are former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa, former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, and lawyer Pacifico Agabin, former dean of the Lyceum Law School and UP College of Law. Enrile said this legal question should be best decided by the Supreme Court. Still loved Enrile said Estrada can still draw crowds based on their recent provincial trips, the latest of which was in Mindanao. While he did not name names, he said those placing radio and TV ads now will pale in comparison to Estrada in a “realistic" assessment of their political strengths. “I am not belittling them, mga kaibigan ko lahat sila. Mga kaibigan ko ang mga kasama ko sa Senado and I wish them luck and I know they are capable men. But we are talking of political strength, a realistic assessment of the political strength of each one. As far as I have seen dahil napasama ako kay Erap in different parts of the country, north to south. We just came from Mindanao - sasabihin ko sa inyo sa Mindanao I think they are going to have a problem with Erap," he said. [I am not belittling them because they are my friends. But given a realistic assessment of political strength, based on my recent trips with Estrada in the provinces, I can tell you they are going to have a problem with Erap.] Among those would-be candidates who are very visible in TV and radio advertisements are Senators Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Manny Villar. Estrada is ranking well in recent surveys even without an ad campaign. - GMANews.TV