Palace denies hand in Lacson-Estrada rift

Malacañang on Wednesday denied involvement in the current rift between allies-turned-rivals former President Joseph Estrada and Senator Panfilo Lacson. "Si Senator Lacson is his own man. Siguro alam naman n'yo si Senator Lacson is a straight-talking politician. He says what he thinks he must say," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a chance interview at the EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Hotel in Mandaluyong City. In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Estrada’s son, Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, said Lacson’s tirades against his father had the blessings of the administration. He also called Lacson an "opportunist" who is only "masquerading" as a member of the political opposition. Jinggoy was reacting to Lacson’s privilege speech a day before, wherein the former national police chief accused Estrada of being a coddler of jueteng operators and a "godfather" of smugglers, among others. Ermita, however, admitted that the squabble would work in favor of the administration especially in next year’s elections. "Yan ay mga haka-haka ng mga political analysts dahil may kasabihan nga ang kasiraan ng kalaban mo …di, ibig sabihin ay benefit naman sa iyo. Kung ganyan sila nagsisiraan, maaring ganon nga ang mangyari," said Ermita. (That’s what political analysts are saying. The disadvantages of your opponent are your advantages. If they will continue their infighting, then it will benefit the administration.) Ermita refused to speculate on Lacson’s motive but added that the reason for his tirades against Estrada was "very obvious." Lacson had earlier urged Estrada to abandon his presidential bid in next year’s elections if he is serious in uniting the opposition. The camp of the former leader shot back at Lacson, saying he has no right to “lecture" Estrada on such matter. - GMANews.TV