Erap flies to London for daughter's graduation

MANILA, Philippines - In the thick of the congressional canvass for president and vice president, former President Joseph Estrada yesterday left for London to attend his daughter Jerika Larize Ejercito’s graduation.

Estrada, accompanied by former ambassador to Japan Antonio Villamayor, boarded an 11 a.m. Cathay Pacific flight CX-906 bound for Hong Kong, from where he will connect to London for a two-week trip.

Jerika, who joined her father’s campaign sorties, is Estrada’s daughter with former actress Laarni Enriquez.

Estrada still ranks second, next to Sen. Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III, in the congressional tally. His running mate, Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, is leading the vice presidential race.

Estrada’s son, Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, said they continue to support Binay despite intrigues that the relationship between him and the former president had gone sour.

The younger Estrada said there is no evidence that could prove the intrigues. Binay, he said, even attended the 80th birthday celebration of his mother, former Sen. Loi Estrada, on June 2.

“We supported Binay, and that remains,” the younger Estrada said.

The elder Estrada has not yet conceded to Aquino but the younger Estrada had already expressed support for the presidential frontrunner.                                     

Battle for leadership

Sen. Estrada is also supporting Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile if he wants to retain his post as Senate President in the 15th congress.

Estrada said he remains loyal to Enrile, who won another six-year term under the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

He expects Sen. Gregorio Honasan and Senator-elect Tito Sotto to also back Enrile.

Sources said Estrada is intent on having Enrile retained as Senate President because he, in turn, wants to retain his post. 

Estrada also contradicted the claims of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri that Sotto and Honasan have defected to the side of Sen. Edgardo Angara, who is also supposedly aspiring to be Senate president.                      

Angara did not openly state that he is seeking the Senate presidency but he said he wants to exert a powerful influence on the next Senate, particularly on the legislative agenda of the next Congress.

He is supported by Senators Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Ramon Revilla, and Lito Lapid.                       

“Gringo and Tito are free to choose their (bet for) Senate president if Enrile will not run. But if JPE (Enrile) has the numbers, they will definitely go for JPE,” Estrada said.

Other senators who reportedly want to be Senate president are Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party and Sens. Franklin Drilon and Francis Pangilinan of the Liberal Party. 

Villar also has a powerful bloc composed Sens. Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Alan Cayetano and Pia Cayetano.

Under the rules, a senator aspiring to be Senate president should get the vote of the majority or 13 votes.

There are now only 21 senators who have voting powers.

Senators Antonio Tillanes IV and Panfilo Lacson have no voting powers.

Trillanes is still detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City because of coup d’etat charges, while Sen. Panfilo Lacson remains as a fugitive in connection with the Dacer-Corbito murder case.   – With Christina Mendez