Erap spends New Year’s with mom

Former President Joseph Estrada took advantage of his nine-hour temporary liberty to meet with leaders of the opposition and finalize its senatorial slate.

"Many want to join the slate. We will be finalizing the list by Jan. 15," San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said. But Ejercito stressed the event was a family reunion and not a political gathering.

Estrada’s visitors yesterday included United Opposition leader and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and former senator Vicente Sotto III.

The Sandiganbayan allowed Estrada to spend the New Year with his 101-year old mother Doña Mary Ejercito and some close friends at the Estradas’ residence on Polk Street in North Greenhills.

The former president was sent back late in the afternoon under heavy police escort to his resthouse in Tanay where he is detained for plunder charges.

The Estrada family reunion was held at his residence on Polk Street and not at his mother’s residence on Kennedy Street as originally planned because of a power failure at his mother’s house. He was welcomed by his wife Sen. Luisa Ejercito and other family members.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ejercito renewed calls for the release of his father from detention "in the spirit of reconciliation.’’ Some political leaders, including Manila Mayor Lito Atienza are urging the Arroyo administration to release the former president. "This is a political case and not an ordinary judicial case," Ejercito said.

In his New Year’s Day message, Estrada called on Filipinos to work for a better year despite what he called the  "bondage of tyranny’’ perpetrated by an "unelected’’ government.

"We have endured the past year with much hardship, with many sacrifices and with forbearance. But we faced and survived a year of natural and man- made calamities, disasters and misfortune,’’ Estrada said.

"We pray and hope to see the dawn of a new era of peace, prosperity and justice as the New Year comes. And we must gather strength to deliver it to our country because our salvation now lies in our own hands,’’ he said.