LP appeals to Erap to endorse Noynoy

The Liberal Party on Thursday appealed to former President Joseph Estrada to drop his presidential ambition and instead, endorse Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III "without any conditions." "We are appealing to former President Estrada to consider seriously endorsing Noynoy," former Senate president and LP chairman Franklin Drilon said during the weekly news forum at the Senate. Drilon made the appeal a day after Aquino, the only son of the late President Corazon “Cory" Aquino and slain senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr., announced his candidacy for the 2010 national elections. Estrada, deposed in 2001 over allegations of corruption, had earlier said he is "99.9 percent" sure to seek re-election next year despite questions of its legality. He said he would only back out of the presidential race if the opposition could pick a single standard bearer to go against the administration’s bet. Optimistic on united opposition Drilon clarified that their appeal is not an imposition to Estrada. "We are not imposing. We are in no position to impose as they may have their own agenda. There is nothing wrong in making an appeal," he said. Drilon was optimistic for a unified opposition despite the number of presidential aspirants in its ranks, among them Senators Manuel Villar Jr., Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby" Madrigal. He also defended Aquino against critics, saying the senator would be judged not for his physical appearance but for his “political will" to rid the government of corruption. "Senator Aquino believes that political will is needed to stop corruption and that is the issue that we are going to stand on," he said. Drilon was reacting to text messages purportedly making fun of Aquino’s physical appearance. "The issue of physical appearance is not relevant with governance," he said. Aquino’s sister, television personality Kris Aquino-Yap, had earlier said she wanted to improve her brother’s image. - GMANews.TV