Estrada can play president on April Fool’s Day — KMU

Ousted leader Joseph Estrada can act as president today without militant groups objecting.

Well, it’s April Fool’s Day and they’re allowing him to make a fool of himself.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said it is giving the deposed leader the chance to claim that he is still the rightful resident of Malacañang Palace – only for today.

"Today he can declare himself president without any objection from us," said Elmer Labog, KMU secretary general.

"But at the stroke of midnight, he will have to revert to his usual self – the ousted president desperate to escape prosecution and arrest for his countless crimes."

Labog said militant groups aren’t really the grim and determined lot that others imagine them to be. On the contrary, he said, the KMU and other activist groups have a sense of humor and are capable of appreciating a good joke.

"Today’s April Fool’s Day and this is the only day wherein Estrada and his political party make sense," he said.

The KMU is also allowing Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and former Press Secretary Ricardo Puno to play court jester and town crier, respectively, today.

To the KMU’s mind, Santiago and Puno have remained comic characters because of their role in defending Estrada in his historic impeachment trial that ran from late last year to early this year.

The two are now running for the Senate under Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masa coalition.

Estrada’s impeachment trial was cut short in January when senators sitting as jurors refused to open an envelope believed to contain potentially damaging evidence against Estrada. The senators’ refusal triggered a popular revolt known as people power II which eventually ousted the retired movie actor from Malacañang.

Estrada, however, has maintained his claim to the presidency and even filed a petition with the Supreme Court questioning his ouster.

The Court voted unanimously against his claim, thereby giving legitimacy to the country’s new president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.