Estrada calls on supporters to guard vs dictatorship

Watch out for the resurgence of fascist rule.

This was the warning aired by jailed former President Joseph Estrada as he called on his supporters over the weekend to guard, through today’s local and national elections, against the impending return of dictatorship in the country.

"Through the ballots, we must protect democracy against the return of dictatorship. This government has been doing its best to put in power those who will help it repress the Filipino masses," Estrada said.

"Their last resort will be to cheat in the election," the deposed leader added in a pre-taped message aired during the miting de avance of his son Joseph Victor Ejercito, mayoral candidate of San Juan, at the Pinaglabanan Shrine Saturday night.

Ejercito is the official candidate of his father’s Puwersa ng Masa coalition.

Estrada has assailed the government for the saturation drives (sonas) conducted in the depressed communities of Metro Manila allegedly in search of his supporters.

He complained that the government has been harassing and intimidating his so-called cronies, whom he described as "legitimate businessmen."

He also lambasted the "violent" dispersal of his supporters who stormed Malacañang on Labor Day at the climax of EDSA III.

"They violently dispersed our protest action in Mendiola and, without justifiable reasons, they filed charges against the senatorial candidates of the Puwersa ng Masa like Sen. (Juan Ponce) Enrile, Sen. (Gregorio) Honasan, Sen. (Miriam Defensor) Santiago, and Gen. (Panfilo) Lacson," he noted.

Estrada expressed belief that these moves were just intended to wipe out the "true opposition who will prevent this government from committing abuses."

"In this election, let the voices of the real people’s power be heard against the voices of the rich people’s power. With our ballots, we must defend our Constitution and our rights. Let us guard our ballots," he added.

Estrada won by a landslide in the 1998 elections, garnering some 11 million votes. But his administration lasted barely 30 months after he was ousted by a popular revolt last January amid corruption charges.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where Estrada was airlifted to Saturday afternoon said there was nothing to worry about his health.

"There’s nothing serious. Perhaps, what he felt was caused by the sudden change of weather," said Dr. Salvador Flores, director of VMMC in an interview over radio station RMN-dzXL.

Estrada, who was staying with his son and co-accused Jinggoy at a high-security bungalow at a police camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, had complained of chills and stomach pains.

"So with his son Jinggoy. Both of them could have been affected by changes of weather," Flores stressed.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) had taken the disgraced leader to the VMMC for a medical check-up a day after his arrest on April 25 on orders of the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court trying the ex-president for plunder.

However, Estrada and his eldest son had to be airlifted to Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa on May 1 as thousands of Estrada supporters threatened to attack the VMMC and free their fallen idol.

Instead of storming the hospital, the Estrada loyalists attacked and assaulted Malacañang in day-long riots that left four people killed, scores wounded, and more than a hundred arrested.

Flores said that based on Estrada’s looks and health, he has not changed in the 11 days since he was last there for an executive medical check-up.

Reports have it that Estrada and Jinggoy will vote at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center although Estrada is registered in a precinct at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan, while Jinggoy is a registered voter at a precinct in Barangay Greenhills.

Flores expressed belief that they could help facilitate the electoral process.

"It’s simple. I guess we can do it (allow father and son to cast their votes in hospital)," the doctor explained.

Officials fear the sight of Estrada under heavy guard trooping back to his stronghold of San Juan town could trigger an outpouring of support for the former movie action star whose years of playing underdog roles had endeared him to the masses.

The government fears that freeing Estrada, even temporarily, could embolden his supporters, who last month ringed his mansion in a failed attempt to prevent their idol from being arrested and jailed on charges of the capital crime of plunder.

President Arroyo has said allowing Estrada to vote in San Juan could cause problems. "Somebody could sabotage (the plan) and kill him and it will be blamed on the administration," she said.

Police have said the voting trip would not only imperil Estrada’s safety, but that of the public as well, and were expecting cumbersome security problems. –With Cecille Suerte Felipe