But where were the candidates?

Most of the people no-minated for Senate slots by ousted President Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) were missing when the party proclaimed 22 other bets in a general assembly in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday.

Former First Lady Luisa Ejercito, former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson and the others failed to show up for unknown reasons.

Members of Estrada’s party have nominated Mrs. Estrada, and other key figures who defended the ousted chief executive throughout his impeachment trial, to run for the Senate in May.

Mrs. Estrada told The STAR in an exclusive interview yesterday at their residence on No. 1 Polk st. in North Greenhills that she is seriously thinking about running for the Senate to vindicate her husband’s name.

"I will have to consult with my priest-friends," she said. "I will seek discernment and perhaps, go on one day retreat before I decide on these things."

Mrs. Estrada said she would have to make a decision before the Feb. 12 deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy or until the Commission on Elections extends the period.

The ousted president told The STAR his wife might become "another Hillary Clinton" and win a seat in the 24-seat Senate in the May elections.

"She (Mrs. Estrada) has done a lot of good things for our people from as far as Tawi-Tawi with her medical missions all over the country," he said.

However, the deposed chief executive said he is reluctant to allow Mrs. Estrada to join the political fray even under the banner of his political party.

"She’s actually afraid (to run for office)," he said.

On the other hand, former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, PMP secretary general, told The STAR Mrs. Estrada is a "sure winner" in the Senate race if she decides to run.

"I think her chances are very good," he said. "She can win. There’s a real clamor for her to run (for the Senate). But the question is whether she will run or not. She has to make up her mind because her family has been in politics all these years."

Lacson’s no-show at Club Filipino yesterday drew questions whether he would run for the Senate since he had announced earlier that he was not interested in joining politics.

"I hate politics and to put it more bluntly, I hate politicians," he said while still PNP chief.

Other reports told The STAR Lacson is interested in running as vice governor of Cavite with Gov. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. Lacson is a native of Imus, Cavite.

However, sources close to Lacson told The STAR yesterday he would choose to retire from the police service and might shy away from politics.

The STAR tried to reach Lacson yesterday to no avail.

Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PMP vice president, told reporters yesterday Estrada will lead the nationwide campaign for PMP senatorial candidates in this May’s elections

"President Estrada will be our No. 1 campaigner in May," he said. "He will be participating in campaigns all over the country."

Puno said Estrada will join campaign rallies to explain to the people, particularly in the provinces, his side of the allegations being hurled by President Arroyo and her supporters.

Puno said Estrada was reinstated as PMP president yesterday after the party leadership accepted the resignation of former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, who had served as PMP president.

"We vested President Estrada the powers to reconstitute the PMP National Assembly and to conduct dialogues with other parties in view of the May elections this year," he said.

Puno said the PMP will also reorganize its National Executive Committee to strengthen the party which will face the resurgent Lakas-NUCD-UMDP party of Mrs. Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos.
Puno said Mrs. Arroyo "grabbed power" from Estrada through people power II, and that she set a "bad precedent" for the country where presidents from hereon would be removed through "mob rule" in place of elections.

"Because of the activism of the minority, the national leader has been disenfranchised. People power, which is supposed to be used against a dictator and a tyrant, was used to unseat a democratically elected president," he said.
Puno said Estrada and his lawyers will "try to resolve the matter legally," and that the impeachment court should be reconvened "to prove Estrada’s innocence."

The PMP’s tentative senatorial candidates are Mrs. Ejercito, Mercado, Lacson, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former Press Secretary Ricardo "Dong" Puno, former Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim, former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, former presidential adviser on children’s affairs Jamby Madrigal, former Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, former Labor Secretary Benjamin Laguesma, Palawan City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, movie star Boots Anson-Roa, broadcaster Noli de Castro, Rep. Lualhati Antonino, Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares, former immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez, Rep. Daisy Avance-Fuentes. Rep. Didagen Dilangalen and Gov. Carlos Fortich.

Meanwhile, Crispin Beltran, chairman of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno, told reporters yesterday "large bank deposits" of Estrada would be used to finance a military coup against Mrs. Arroyo and to rebuild Estrada’s political machinery.

"PMP’s funds will also be coming from the yet uncovered money Estrada collected from his jueteng scheme and from all other illegal business deals," he said.

Beltran said they have received information that Estrada will use his funds to ensure the PMP’s victory in the local and congressional elections.

Beltran called on the Arroyo administration to freeze Estrada’s assets to prevent his return to power and urged voters to boycott PMP candidates.

"The voting public must not give time on PMP’s candidates because they are sure to present nothing but patronage politics," he said.–Marichu Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano, Christina Mendez, Mayen Jaymalin