UNO plans early for 2010; Jinggoy-Binay slate looms

The presidential elections may be three years away, but for many leaders of the United Opposition (UNO) it is not too early to plan for the 2010 national balloting. On Saturday, UNO said that it is grooming Senator Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada and UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay for the opposition ticket in a bid to put the coalition in power. Former Senator Ernesto Maceda, one of UNO’s senior officers, made the announcement during the rounds made by pardoned former president Joseph Estrada in Vitas, Tondo, that turned into a political event. “We are asking Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Makati Mayor Binay to talk and decide for themselves who among them will run for president and vice president," Maceda said. Binay, however, said it is too early for him to decide whether to accept the presidential slot. “I have a duty first to serve the people of Makati. I think it is too early to think about my ambition for 2010," said Binay who also accompanied Estrada in the medical mission in Tondo. Jinggoy told the crowd in Tondo that he will continue to be the voice of the people in the Senate. “As the son of the masses, I will be your voice in the Senate," Jinggoy said. At Malacañang, Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde told GMA News that they welcome UNO’s early preparation for 2010. "That is wonderful. That is what we've been asking the opposition all along. Instead of destabilizing this administration or impeaching the President they should just prepare for the 2010 elections," Remonde said. A source had said that Jinggoy's presidential dream could be ruined if his father would eventually cut his ties with the opposition following the former leader’s acceptance of the pardon granted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The source said Estrada’s decision to take the presidential clemency last October 25 has deeply hurt some opposition leaders, fearing it could lead to a break up with the former leader. Estrada serves as the titular head of the United Opposition. “The grant of pardon to President Estrada was wrong timing. Jinggoy will be the first to be affected once the opposition decides to junk Estrada. Jinggoy is eyeing to run for Vice President by 2010 and he needs the support of the opposition to fulfill his political plans, but these recent developments are not really helping Jinggoy," the source said. Estrada has maintained in various interviews that he would continue to be an opposition despite accepting Mrs Arroyo’s pardon. “I will remain an opposition. I will not accept any position from the Arroyo administration," Estrada said. The source said Jinggoy is eyeing to be the standard-bearer of the opposition by 2010, but he may settle to vice president. In an interview, Maceda said Estrada will not be leaving the “true" opposition. “It is not true that President Estrada’s decision to accept the pardon granted by the Arroyo administration had caused a crack in the opposition. In fact, it made us (opposition) even stronger. You see, we are together," Maceda said. Maceda said those who are criticizing Estrada for accepting the pardon granted by Mrs Arroyo are not the “true opposition." “They are the kind of black and white opposition. Like the three Bishops. In the beginning they are in opposition to President Arroyo. But they are not from the 11 groups that composed the United Opposition," Maceda said. - GMANews.TV