Erap looks forward to meeting Koko over Migz issue

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada sees as “good news” the statement of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III that he is not leaving PDP-Laban and thinking about his stay in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada yesterday said he is looking forward to Pimentel spending time with him to talk about his concerns over former senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

Pimentel strongly opposed the inclusion of Zubiri in the senatorial lineup of UNA for the elections next year.

Estrada, one of the founders of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) which had coalesced with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), personally endorsed Zubiri to be one of UNA’s senatorial candidates for next year’s elections.

“Good. Good,” he told The STAR. “That’s a good sign. I’m going out of my way to unite the coalition.”

Estrada said he has high regard for Pimentel, who is one of his godsons.

“Hopefully, he will understand the situation and he will forgive and forget. Besides, Migz has already apologized.”

Estrada said he will not give up trying to have Pimentel stay with UNA.

“I have never been giving up to have Koko be with us (UNA), not only because he is my godson,” he said. – With Perseus Echeminada