LP a bunch of turncoats, says Erap

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY , Philippines   â€“ Former President Joseph Estrada described the administration Liberal Party (LP) as a bunch of “balimbings” or political turncoats led by Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Estrada said Drilon, now campaign manager of the administration senatorial slate Team PNoy, used to be a staunch supporter of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Who cheated FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.)? It was Drilon who was then the Senate President and his assistant (Sen.) Francis Pangilinan who said ‘noted,’ ‘noted,’ ‘noted.’ FPJ was cheated,” Estrada said.

Estrada told a press conference here late Friday that it was Drilon who also proclaimed Arroyo at 3 a.m. when Filipinos were already sound asleep.

“Now they are attacking GMA (Arroyo). If there is someone who should attack GMA, it (should be) me. They are the conspirators of GMA. They are shameful. Drilon even offered to transfer Malacañang to Iloilo during the presidency of Arroyo,” he said.

“These kind of people are good in turncoatism. I asked them, we are celebrating EDSA 1, how come EDSA 2 has not been celebrated. They are ashamed of it. That is the lost decade of our country,” Estrada added.

Estrada said even President Aquino’s mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino, apologized to him in public and admitted that EDSA Dos was a mistake.

“They are diehards of the yellow army,” said Estrada, one of the three pillars of the United Nationalist Alliance along with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Estrada described himself as a man of “many Xs.”

“I am the president of X-men. I have many X. I’m an ex-movie actor, ex-mayor, ex-senator, ex-vice president, ex-president and ex-convict. Although I have x-men friends. Like (former South Africa) President (Nelson) Mandela, who was convicted for 27 years. Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia and the late Senator Ninoy Aquino who was convicted by a military court and Raul Manglapus. So, we are all convicted because we are men of convictions,” Estrada said.

UNA’s campaign later proceeded to Malaybalay, Bukidnon where the rally turned into a virtual New Year’s Eve celebration with a fireworks display.

The 15-minute pyrotechnics ended the rally as more than 70,000 people in attendance took pictures of the fireworks.

UNA candidate former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, his father Bukidnon Vice Gov. Jose Zubiri and Gov. Alex Calingasan led other officials and senatorial hopefuls in the countdown for the one-week Kaamulan festival.

The UNA candidates were asked to dance the “Harlem Shake” popular in the US, but only Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay obliged by joining movie actress Alma Concepcion in the freeform dance.

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