No common candidate for opposition in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The prospect of fielding a common opposition presidential candidate in 2010 appears dim, with several individuals bent on running.

Former President Joseph Estrada met recently with Liberal Party president Sen. Manuel Roxas II to start unification talks with opposition presidential aspirants, but Roxas signified his intention to pursue his own presidential ambition.

Sen. Manuel Villar is also expected to proceed with his candidacy.

Estrada himself, though claiming that he is trying to unite the opposition, wants to seek re-election and is believed to be trying to rally the other aspirants to support his bid.

“I already met with Roxas. He told me that there was no stopping him from running for president in 2010. He was the first among opposition presidentiables that I met with,” Estrada said.

Estrada also confirmed that he would meet with Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Manuel Villar and Makati City Mayor and United Opposition (UNO) president Jejomar Binay, in that order, to ask if they are willing to support a single opposition candidate.

“I will be meeting them one by one to get their position in my pursuit to unify the opposition in fielding a single presidential candidate in 2010. As I have said, if I will not be able to unite the opposition to support a single candidate, I will definitely run myself for president next year,” Estrada said.

Sensing that the opposition would not come up with a common candidate, Estrada has practically confirmed that he is definitely running, and even took a potshot at former President Fidel Ramos.

“I will give him (Ramos) four million votes. I won against then House speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. in 1998 by more than six million votes. It was a difference of more than six million votes,” he said, referring to his actual lead in the 1998 presidential race.

Ramos was earlier quoted as saying that he would also run if Estrada seeks the presidency anew.

The ousted president said Ramos is too old to seek the presidency, but it was still a welcome development.

“He is already 81 years old. Amoy lupa na iyon (He already smells like the soil),” Estrada said, adding that he is close to Ramos’ sister former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani.

He said Ramos turned on him when he ordered the investigation of four controversial transactions made by the Ramos administration, namely the sale of Petron, National Steel Mill, Alabang Stock Farm and Fort Bonifacio.

“The proceeds of the sale of Fort Bonifacio went to the Centennial expo. That is why he (Ramos) was very angry with me because I ordered an investigation on that. The Alabang Stock farm is a sweetheart deal. He (Ramos) is included in that deal,” Estrada said.

Prone to cheating

Estrada has consistently said that fielding many opposition presidential candidates would make it easier for the administration to cheat in the 2010 presidential elections.

He said the opposition should learn from the lessons of the 2004 presidential elections where the opposition fielded several candidates, including his closest friend, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ), whom he said lost to President Arroyo due to massive cheating.

“I might declare by last week of September,” he said.

Still the man to beat

Former ambassador Ernesto Maceda said Estrada remained a presidential candidate to beat in 2010.

Maceda even compared Estrada to Roxas, whom political analysts said needs Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to boost his presidential bid.

“President Estrada doesn’t need the strength of the Vice President (candidate) to make him win. Unlike today, on Mar-Noynoy tandem, Noynoy will make Mar’s chances strong. Whoever will be Erap’s vice president, he is still a strong candidate. He will be the one to lift his vice presidential tandem,” he said.

And whether it’s a “Mar-Noynoy” or a “Noynoy-Mar” tandem, Estrada said it doesn’t change a thing because he is ready to face both of them in 2010.

Maceda said everything is now in place for Estrada’s candidacy.

“Except that he has yet to declare his candidacy. In fact, everything is already moving. Erap and Vice President Noli de Castro are both strong (candidates) in class D and E. If Noli did not win the administration support and will not be fielded by the administration, it will be a plus factor for Erap,” he said, adding that there could be a five-way presidential race in 2010.

“There will be three in the opposition, namely Estrada, Villar and Roxas, and two for the administration, Noli and National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. If Noli declares to run, then he will be one (administration candidate). President Arroyo is sympathetic to Gilbert Teodoro. If I were Gloria, I will play with all the candidates,” he said.