Erap to endorse whoever tops survey in 2010

MANILA, Philippines – Ousted President Joseph Estrada said he will anoint and personally campaign for whoever will top the survey and be the opposition’s standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections, even if it is Senate President Manuel Villar, one of those who maneuvered for his ouster in 2001.

“If he (Villar) tops the survey and can continue my pro-poor policies, why not? After all, I have already forgiven all those who have wronged me, as stated in the Lord’s prayer, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” Estrada said.

Estrada maintained that he has no plans to run in the 2010 presidential elections.

He said that he is comfortable with his role as elder statesman, although he will definitely campaign for whoever will be the standard bearer of the opposition.

Estrada meanwhile admitted that it would not be easy to compel President Arroyo to answer all the allegations of corruption and anomalies against her and her Cabinet members as long as she enjoys presidential immunity.

Estrada, who hosted a lunch for the members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in his residence on Polk Street in North Greenhills, San Juan City last Sunday, said Mrs. Arroyo must be compelled to answer all the allegations of corruption once she is out of the presidency and immunity is removed.

“She should answer all allegations against her, just like I did, once she steps down from power and she no longer has immunity as president. I was given absolute pardon and have all the right to speak freely for the Filipino people. Anyway, my freedom is secondary to the freedom from hunger of the Filipino masses,” Estrada said.

Estrada also vowed to block any attempt of the administration to extend Mrs. Arroyo’s term.

“I don’t believe in any person staying in power for too long,” Estrada, who stayed in the Palace for only two and a half years, said.

Estrada said Mrs. Arroyo is second only to the late President Ferdinand Marcos, who was in power for 21 years.

“That is the loophole of our Constitution. It says that a president can run again if he or she has only served for less than four years. But then that President, the incumbent President, can and will use all the resources of the administration possible to ensure their victory which is what happened in 2004,” he said.