Erap says he misses pal Danding

Former President Joseph “Erap" Estrada, who is once again eyeing the presidency, on Monday said he is missing the service of his former campaign manager, business tycoon and known kingmaker Eduardo “Danding" Cojuangco Jr. “I miss him sometimes, but we all know that he can’t join us in our campaign because he’s always sick. Meron siyang health problem kaya kelangan na magpahinga na (He has a health problem so he needs to rest)," Estrada said. Cojuangco, 74, underwent cardiac ablation, a procedure done to correct abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia, in the United States last November. He had a medical check-up at St. Luke's hospital last January after suffering discomfort caused by his medicines. In its 2009 listing, the influential business magazine Forbes ranked Cojuangco as the seventh richest person in the Philippines, with a net worth of $660 million. He is the current chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the Philippines' largest food and beverage conglomerate. Respect over votes Estrada, whose re-election bid has been the subject of legal and political debates, said he is confident that he will still get the votes despite Cojuangco's absence. “Hindi naman maaapektuhan ang votes ko dahil wala sya sa tabi ko. Kaibigan ko sya at alam naman natin na nirerespeto natin si Danding (I don’t think my votes will be affected by his absence. He’s my friend and I respect him)," said the former leader. He added without elaborating that he regularly communicates with Cojuangco’s camp. Two of Cojuangco’s nephews – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III (Liberal Party) and Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) – are also running for president. Cojuangco has not publicly expressed support for any of the two candidates, but his wife, Gretchen, had categorically stated that they would not support Teodoro. In 1992, Cojuangco set up the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and ran as its standard bearer. He lost to Fidel V. Ramos but remains the NPC’s chairman emeritus. Erap's past Estrada, on the other hand, was ousted from the presidency in 2001 via a popular street uprising along EDSA after being accused of corruption. He only served as President for roughly two years and seven months. In September 2007, the Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada for plunder and sentenced him to a lifetime in jail, as well as disqualified him from seeking any public office. He was however pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a month later. Estrada, who is running under the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), said he is taking the challenge of running for the presidency again to fulfill his promise in 1998 to uplift the lives of the poor. “I’ve lived my life to the fullest and this is the twilight of my life, my only dream is to be remembered as the champion of the cause of the masses," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV