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Erap seeking presidency again amid legal questions
By AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV
(Updated 10:07 p.m.) As supporters estimated at 10,000 cheered in front of a historic church in Manila's Tondo district Wednesday, former President Joseph Estrada officially declared that he will run for the presidency in the 2010 elections, despite legal challenges and immediate objections to the idea of his political comeback. A big crowd gathered to witness the official proclamation during the United Opposition’s (UNO) national convention at Plaza Amado Hernandez fronting the Sto. Niño de Tondo Church in the very heart of Manila's slums — the base of legions of his supporters who propelled him to movie stardom, then to political power. Asked during the rally by Mel Tiangco of GMA News why he wanted to return to Malacañang despite his "ugly experience there," Estrada replied, "It was ugly because they conspired and I was forced to step down... I couldn't implement my welfare programs for the poor, and so I plan to continue these." "This will be the final, final performance of my life," Estrada told The Associated Press in an earlier interview. "I should not fail the Filipino people in this next chapter," said the former president, who was ousted in a popular revolt in 2001, then convicted of plunder and later pardoned. The crowd went wild when Estrada and his vice-presidential bet Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo" Binay went up the stage and raised their hands, followed by a short fireworks display while they were being introduced.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
In his speech, Estrada insisted that he did not commit any wrongdoing during his stint as president from 1998 to 2001. "Kung ako ay may kasalanan ay hindi ko kayo matitingnan sa mata (If I committed any wrongdoing I would not be able to look at you straight in the eye)," Estrada said. Wearing his trademark wrist band and bright orange campaign jacket, Estrada vowed to end the long-festering problem of terrorism, citing the recent spate of three kidnapping incidents in Mindanao in a span of 10 days since October 11. In Binay's acceptance speech, the UNO vice-presidential bet said he will never leave Estrada, adding that inexperienced leaders posing to be pro-poor must not be allowed to lead the country. "Asahan ninyo na ako ay kasangga, kadamay, at tunay na kasama ni Pangulong Erap. Ako ay hindi babaligtad kailanman at hindi mag-iiwanan ni Erap. Lagi kaming magkasamang tapat," Binay said. (You can count on me to be President Erap’s true friend and comrade. I’ll never be a turncoat, Erap and I won’t leave each other behind. We will always be loyal buddies.) In the UNO convention, Estrada also announced some of the personalities who would make up the opposition party's senatorial slate. Among them are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, son and Senate pro tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Ilocos Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, with guest candidates Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People Reform's Party and Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of the Nationalist People's Coalition. Observers noted that of the senatorial lineup, only Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Joey de Venecia were seen on stage with the other UNO notables. Despite questions on the legality of Estrada’s reelection bid, a law dean insisted during the UNO rally that the deposed leader is still eligible to run for president. [See: Erap candidacy in the May 2010 polls debate rages on.] University of the East College of Law Dean Amado D. Valdez said only two categories are banned from seeking reelection: incumbent presidents, and those who have finished the six-year term as prescribed in the 1987 Constitution. He said Estrada does not fall into either category. “Hindi pinapayagan ang reelection (sa incumbent) sa pangambang magamit ang resources ng gobyerno, yan ang ayon sa drafters ng Constitution (The incumbent is not allowed to seek reelection, to avoid his misuse of government resources – that was the concern of the Constitution’s drafters)" Valdez said. “Hindi yan applicable kay Pangulong Estrada (These are not applicable to President Estrada)," he added. New episode in a checkered life A return to politics would mark a new episode in Estrada's checkered life, which many say has been as colorful as his B-movies. The 72-year-old actor-politician stepped down amid massive anti-corruption protests in 2001 after serving only less than half of his six-year term. He was convicted of economic plunder in September 2007 but was immediately granted a pardon by his successor and political nemesis, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Rivals are expected to challenge his candidacy before the Supreme Court and invoke a constitutional ban on a second term for any president. A study by his legal team, Estrada said, indicated he was not covered by the ban because he was illegally forced from power. Arroyo, who was elected vice president separately, helped lead the military-backed protests, then succeeded him. "I was demonized then unconstitutionally removed," Estrada said. Albert Lim, spokesman of the Makati Business Club, a prestigious group of the country's top business executives, said Estrada's poor record as president and his criminal conviction should be enough reasons for him not to run again. "Going by his track record, why should anyone think that he'll be a good president?" Lim asked. "He won't be good for business." 'I won't fail them this time' Despite his ouster, conviction and detention, Estrada steadfastly denied the charges of plundering Philippine coffers through kickbacks and illegal gambling payoffs. He never parted with a visible symbol of his power — his trademark wristband with the presidential seal, which he wore in Wednesday's public rally in his power base — Manila's Tondo slum district. "During the lowest point in my life, the poor did not abandon me," he said. "I'll announce my candidacy in their midst and I won't fail them this time." Estrada rose to movie stardom in his early 20s, playing tough guys with a soft spot for the needy — roles that earned him the hearts of the masses that make up almost half of the population. In the 1970s, he won five best actor awards in the Philippines' version of the Oscars. Estrada entered politics in 1969 with his election as mayor of Manila's San Juan suburb, a post he kept for 17 years. He was elected senator in 1987, then vice president in 1992 despite a life of boozing, gambling and womanizing — foibles that humanized and endeared him to ordinary Filipinos but disturbed the influential Roman Catholic Church and the business community. He has acknowledged fathering children with several women other than his wife. He banked on his macho, Filipino everyman charisma and a pro-poor platform in the impoverished Asian nation of 90 million people to win the presidency in 1998 with one of the largest margins in recent memory.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Malacañang, meanwhile, downplayed Estrada's plan as old hat. "We have heard enough about it. I don't see how (we) can be surprised. What difference does it make? He's been talking about it," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in a press briefing. Ermita also said it would not make any difference how Estrada would announce his intention to run because eventually his bid would be questioned legally once he formally files his certificate of candidacy next month. "Sa palagay ko (I think) in the end, everything will have to be settled judicially...I’m sure the good former president is advised by people around him, pero siyempre (but of course) there’ll be citizens who will come out in the open questioning his Certificate of Candidacy and therefore they might bring this matter to the courts, maybe the highest court," Ermita said. Present in the Tondo Church proclamation rally were Estrada’s wife former Senator Luisa “Loi" Ejercito and their two sons, Senator Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV" Ejercito. Also present were former senator Ernesto Maceda, actress Lorna Tolentino, and some local government officials. Among the tarpaulin banners in the area read: “Erap-Binay tapat sa mahirap, samahang matibay (Erap-Binay loyal to the poor, solid as a team)," “Binay is my only vice," “Erap sa bansa, Atienza sa Maynila (Erap for the nation, Atienza for Manila)." Police and organizers pegged the number of people who attended the event at 10,000 with delegates coming from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV with AP report
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
In his speech, Estrada insisted that he did not commit any wrongdoing during his stint as president from 1998 to 2001. "Kung ako ay may kasalanan ay hindi ko kayo matitingnan sa mata (If I committed any wrongdoing I would not be able to look at you straight in the eye)," Estrada said. Wearing his trademark wrist band and bright orange campaign jacket, Estrada vowed to end the long-festering problem of terrorism, citing the recent spate of three kidnapping incidents in Mindanao in a span of 10 days since October 11. In Binay's acceptance speech, the UNO vice-presidential bet said he will never leave Estrada, adding that inexperienced leaders posing to be pro-poor must not be allowed to lead the country. "Asahan ninyo na ako ay kasangga, kadamay, at tunay na kasama ni Pangulong Erap. Ako ay hindi babaligtad kailanman at hindi mag-iiwanan ni Erap. Lagi kaming magkasamang tapat," Binay said. (You can count on me to be President Erap’s true friend and comrade. I’ll never be a turncoat, Erap and I won’t leave each other behind. We will always be loyal buddies.) In the UNO convention, Estrada also announced some of the personalities who would make up the opposition party's senatorial slate. Among them are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, son and Senate pro tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Ilocos Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, businessman Jose "Joey" de Venecia III, with guest candidates Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People Reform's Party and Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of the Nationalist People's Coalition. Observers noted that of the senatorial lineup, only Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Joey de Venecia were seen on stage with the other UNO notables. Despite questions on the legality of Estrada’s reelection bid, a law dean insisted during the UNO rally that the deposed leader is still eligible to run for president. [See: Erap candidacy in the May 2010 polls debate rages on.] University of the East College of Law Dean Amado D. Valdez said only two categories are banned from seeking reelection: incumbent presidents, and those who have finished the six-year term as prescribed in the 1987 Constitution. He said Estrada does not fall into either category. “Hindi pinapayagan ang reelection (sa incumbent) sa pangambang magamit ang resources ng gobyerno, yan ang ayon sa drafters ng Constitution (The incumbent is not allowed to seek reelection, to avoid his misuse of government resources – that was the concern of the Constitution’s drafters)" Valdez said. “Hindi yan applicable kay Pangulong Estrada (These are not applicable to President Estrada)," he added. New episode in a checkered life A return to politics would mark a new episode in Estrada's checkered life, which many say has been as colorful as his B-movies. The 72-year-old actor-politician stepped down amid massive anti-corruption protests in 2001 after serving only less than half of his six-year term. He was convicted of economic plunder in September 2007 but was immediately granted a pardon by his successor and political nemesis, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Rivals are expected to challenge his candidacy before the Supreme Court and invoke a constitutional ban on a second term for any president. A study by his legal team, Estrada said, indicated he was not covered by the ban because he was illegally forced from power. Arroyo, who was elected vice president separately, helped lead the military-backed protests, then succeeded him. "I was demonized then unconstitutionally removed," Estrada said. Albert Lim, spokesman of the Makati Business Club, a prestigious group of the country's top business executives, said Estrada's poor record as president and his criminal conviction should be enough reasons for him not to run again. "Going by his track record, why should anyone think that he'll be a good president?" Lim asked. "He won't be good for business." 'I won't fail them this time' Despite his ouster, conviction and detention, Estrada steadfastly denied the charges of plundering Philippine coffers through kickbacks and illegal gambling payoffs. He never parted with a visible symbol of his power — his trademark wristband with the presidential seal, which he wore in Wednesday's public rally in his power base — Manila's Tondo slum district. "During the lowest point in my life, the poor did not abandon me," he said. "I'll announce my candidacy in their midst and I won't fail them this time." Estrada rose to movie stardom in his early 20s, playing tough guys with a soft spot for the needy — roles that earned him the hearts of the masses that make up almost half of the population. In the 1970s, he won five best actor awards in the Philippines' version of the Oscars. Estrada entered politics in 1969 with his election as mayor of Manila's San Juan suburb, a post he kept for 17 years. He was elected senator in 1987, then vice president in 1992 despite a life of boozing, gambling and womanizing — foibles that humanized and endeared him to ordinary Filipinos but disturbed the influential Roman Catholic Church and the business community. He has acknowledged fathering children with several women other than his wife. He banked on his macho, Filipino everyman charisma and a pro-poor platform in the impoverished Asian nation of 90 million people to win the presidency in 1998 with one of the largest margins in recent memory.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Malacañang, meanwhile, downplayed Estrada's plan as old hat. "We have heard enough about it. I don't see how (we) can be surprised. What difference does it make? He's been talking about it," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in a press briefing. Ermita also said it would not make any difference how Estrada would announce his intention to run because eventually his bid would be questioned legally once he formally files his certificate of candidacy next month. "Sa palagay ko (I think) in the end, everything will have to be settled judicially...I’m sure the good former president is advised by people around him, pero siyempre (but of course) there’ll be citizens who will come out in the open questioning his Certificate of Candidacy and therefore they might bring this matter to the courts, maybe the highest court," Ermita said. Present in the Tondo Church proclamation rally were Estrada’s wife former Senator Luisa “Loi" Ejercito and their two sons, Senator Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada and San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor “JV" Ejercito. Also present were former senator Ernesto Maceda, actress Lorna Tolentino, and some local government officials. Among the tarpaulin banners in the area read: “Erap-Binay tapat sa mahirap, samahang matibay (Erap-Binay loyal to the poor, solid as a team)," “Binay is my only vice," “Erap sa bansa, Atienza sa Maynila (Erap for the nation, Atienza for Manila)." Police and organizers pegged the number of people who attended the event at 10,000 with delegates coming from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV with AP report
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