I’ll be free by next year, Erap tells mom

Detained former President Joseph Estrada assured his mother Mary Marcelo-Ejercito, who turned 100 yesterday, that he will be a free man by the time she celebrates her next birthday.

"I promise you, I will clear our good name. On your next birthday, I will be here — free to celebrate it without a deadline, without a time limit. It’s hard to have a deadline. I feel like Cinderella," he said in Filipino, addressing a crowd of well-wishers at the Manila Hotel, where his mother celebrated her birthday.

Estrada is detained pending the resolution of plunder charges filed with the Sandiganbayan, which granted him a seven-hour furlough to attend the celebration.

He told more than 750 guests at the hotel’s Fiesta Pavilion that his mother serves as his inspiration in the quest to clear his name.

"From you, Mama, I gain courage and fortitude. I always think of you, even though I am far away," the 68-year-old former actor said.

Warming up to the crowd, Estrada said despite being detained, he was the "most popular detainee"

"Kaya may isang matandang politiko diyan na naiingit kaya nagpapapansin kasi hindi napapasama sa survey (That’s why a certain old politician is envious, trying to grab attention since he is not included in surveys)."

He apparently referred to 77-year-old former President Fidel Ramos, who earlier denied sending his men to convince Estrada to join an effort to oust President Arroyo.

Estrada earlier said men identified with Ramos had approached him after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed he still enjoyed a 44 percent trust rating.

"Alam mo, Mama, bakal na tuhod ko ngayon," Estrada told his mother. "Bionic or iron man. Di katulad ng ibang politiko diyan na ‘carrot man.’ Naoperahan na kasi yan sa carotid kaya manipis ang ugat niyan sa utak. Kaya siguro kung pipili man ang tao, between carrot or bionic man, e bionic man ang pipiliin nila," he said.

Estrada referred to his own knee replacement surgery as well as a surgical operation Ramos had undergone to clear out his blocked carotid artery, thus the reference to "carrot man."

Bishop Teodoro Bacani, assisted by Fathers Sonny Ramirez and Larry Faraon, officiated at the thanksgiving Mass that kicked off the celebration.

Estrada was flown by helicopter from his rest house in Tanay, Rizal to a vacant lot at the corner of Ortigas Avenue and Roosevelt St. in San Juan. His son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, was waiting for him inside a silver Toyota Altis and they were escorted by San Juan police to the hotel. About 12 vehicles joined the convoy.

Among those present at the party were show business personalities Eddie Garcia, Boots Anson-Roa, and Armida Siguion-Reyna. Actress Susan Roces, the widow of Estrada’s close friend Fernando Poe Jr., was also there.

The event became a reunion for Estrada former Cabinet members. Among those who attended the celebration were ex-budget chief Benjamin Diokno, ex-public works secretary Gregorio Vigilar, ex-press secretary Rod Reyes, ex-trade secretary Jose Pardo, ex-agrarian reform chief Horacio Morales, and ex-transport secretary Vicente Rivera.

Estrada’s political allies also came in force, among them former Maguindanao congressman Didagen Dilangalen, who now serves as his spokesman. Others were Reps. Imee Marcos of Ilocos Norte and Francisco Escudero of Sorsogon, former senator Francisco Tatad, Sen. Alfredo Lim, and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

However, opposition Senators Panfilo Lacson and Edgardo Angara were not around.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said the occasion went beyond politics. "I do not think that the birthday of Doña Mary, which is very personal, would be used by anybody for any political reason," he said.

Atienza clarified that he attended the celebration to pay tribute to Estrada’s mother, who was once a recipient of Manila’s Ulirang Ina Award because she was able to raise and take good care of 11 children.

During a chance interview, Estrada told reporters he was very happy that his mother had reached 100. "My only wish is for her to live longer," he said.

At the entrance to the function room was an ice sculpture with the words "Maria" and "100 años" or years. Beside it was an eight-layered cream cake, while on the other side was a display of photos documenting the life of Estrada’s mother.

Estrada and Jinggoy escorted "Doña Mary" to the front of the function room, where two video screens lined each side of the stage. Pink was the motif of the event, which was also attended by the celebrant’s 36 grandchildren and 62 great-grandchildren.



Enough cops on hand

Contrary to previous reports, Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said yesterday he deployed only a "sufficient" number of policemen to provide security for the birthday celebration of Estrada’s mother.

"There’s no need to deploy thousands of policemen at the Manila Hotel. Even 30 policemen is sufficient enough to handle the security of the hotel," Bulaong told The STAR.

Other reports said the WPD deployed 50 policemen outside the hotel to secure the grounds and the parking lot. Bomb-sniffing dogs and personnel from the Explosives and Ordnance Division were also on hand.

Earlier reports said National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Avelino Razon mobilized at least 8,000 policemen to guard the hotel and other vital installations like Malacañang.

As of yesterday afternoon, no demonstrators were seen in the vicinity of the hotel, according to the WPD’s District Tactical Operations Center, which monitors the overall situation in Manila.

Police had earlier enforced a "no permit, no rally" policy on the supporters of Estrada.

Bulaong said plainclothes policemen were also deployed within the building to provide security for Estrada and other hotel guests.

He added that a "considerable" number of policemen were stationed at the Chino Roces bridge — formerly known as Mendiola — anticipating mass actions by Estrada’s supporters.

But for the first time in recent years, rallyists failed to march at the bridge leading to Malacañang after Bulaong declared the area a "no rally zone."

Estrada’s supporters instead conducted a peaceful program at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo and vowed to mobilize bigger rallies in the future to march on to Malacañang.

Aside from those stationed at the Chino Roces bridge, the WPD also tapped 125 rookie policemen to be deployed against rallyists as part of their practicum.

Eastern Police District director Chief Supt. Oscar Valenzuela deployed policemen to secure Estrada’s residence in Greenhills, San Juan and the EDSA shrine. — With Nestor Etolle, Eveln Macairan, Non Alquitran