Erap 99.99% certain of presidential bid in 2010

Despite criticisms and possible legal obstacles, former President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday said he is 99.99 percent sure that he would run for the top position in the land in next year’s national elections. A report aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras" quoted Estrada, who was in Iloilo province, as saying that he arrived at his decision because the opposition continues to show disunity on picking its standard-bearer with roughly 10 months before the 2010 polls. Estrada however refused to elaborate on his announcement. "Mawawalan ng dating if I tell everything. Mawawala na yung suspense (It will lose its appeal once I tell everyting)." There are at least six potential presidential aspirants from the opposition, namely Senators Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal, Manuel Villar Jr., Manuel Roxas II, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. Estrada's statement came on the heels of the latest Pulse Asia survey placing him at the second spot on the list of possible winners in next year's presidential race. Senator Manny Villar topped the list.

United Opposition (UNO) spokesperson for Ernesto Maceda had said that the chance of Estrada running for the presidency becomes inevitable if opposition figures would not unite. Maceda explained Estrada is the opposition’s only chance against possible administration candidate, Vice President Noli de Castro Jr. He said only Estrada can give De Castro a good fight among the masses. Estrada was elected in 1998 with over P10 million votes, the highest vote a presidential candidate ever had in Philippine history. He was overthrown in 2001 amid corruption allegations and was sentenced to life imprisonment for plunder. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who succeeded Estrada, granted him executive clemency, which also restored his political and civil rights. Since then he has reiterated his eligibility to run for re-election, saying he is not covered by the election-ban under the Constitution. Estrada has yet to decide on his running mate but the television report said he is now set on choosing his possible vice president. Roxas, Liberal Party’s looming standard-bearer, on Monday said Estrada had asked him to be his running mate if he decides to run for president again. But Roxas said he did not want to put any color on the offer because Estrada only asked him to consider the idea. Roxas was among those who urged President Arroyo to pardon Estrada during his conviction in 2007. - GMANews.TV