Aquino prays for enlightenment of Estrada lawyer, in-laws

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — "I will continue praying for Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino, Sen. Teresa "Tessie" Aquino-Oreta, and former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa... so that they would be enlightened."

Former President Corazon Aquino made this pledge as she urged the three pro-Estrada personalities to change their stance in the present political crisis in a speech at a prayer rally in Barangay Magliman here last Saturday afternoon.

Butz Aquino and Tessie Oreta, who openly support President Estrada, are younger siblings of Aquino’s assassinated husband, former Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.

On the other hand, Narvasa, Mr. Estrada’s lead counsel in the impeachment trial, was appointed to the Supreme Court by Aquino in 1989.

However, Aquino told reporters in an interview that she understands Narvasa’s situation because "we know lawyers, if they are approached by clients, it is difficult for them to say ‘no’."

As for her in-laws, Aquino said: "We all make mistakes. I’m sure Ninoy is also praying for them so that they would be enlightened and see that the Filipino should be the first priority."

Aquino also appealed to Filipinos to continue praying so the 22 senators would decide "above the evidence that would be presented" during the impeachment trial.

Aquino said she is confident that the Senate impeachment tribunal would be able to issue a verdict on the President’s impeachment case by next month.

"The Senate president has been telling us that he will finish it (the impeachment trial) by January," she said.

Aquino said she is supporting Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the constitutional successor in case the President is removed from office after being convicted by the Senate.

During the same prayer rally, Aquino called on pollster Felipe Miranda to "look into the system of conducting surveys" being followed by his firm, Pulse Asia.

"I cannot imagine the Vice President (Arroyo’s approval rating) going down that much," she told reporters in an interview after her speech.

Aquino said she met recently with Miranda to discuss the surveys undertaken by Pulse Asia, which showed Mr. Estrada’s ratings going up, and those of Aquino, Arroyo, and Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin going down.

Last Saturday, Miranda admitted that Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Robert Aventajado paid Pulse Asia P620,000 to conduct the surveys in Metro Manila.

However, Miranda assured the public that results of the surveys had not been manipulated to please Aventajado and the administration.–Ding Cervantes