MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said that he would “definitely run for president” again in 2016 should Vice President Jejomar Binay and his goddaughter Sen. Grace Poe be disqualified from the presidential race.
“I can withdraw my candidacy for mayor of Manila and run as substitute candidate of Vice President Binay and Senator Poe if they are disqualified. But as of now, I am concentrated to run for re-election as mayor of Manila,” Estrada said in a press conference yesterday.
Binay is facing corruption allegations, including his involvement in the overpriced Makati City parking building.
Poe, on the other hand, is leading in pre-election surveys on preferred next president but she is facing citizenship and residency issues. Since she is a foundling and resided in America for years, it cannot be ascertained if she is a natural-born Filipino and if she can meet the residency requirement for presidential candidates under the Constitution.
“Anything can still happen. I haven’t endorsed any presidential candidate yet. If they disqualified the two candidates of the opposition, I will definitely run for president in 2016,” Estrada said.
Estrada also said the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance would automatically adopt him as its presidential candidate if Binay and Poe are disqualified, and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno would be his substitute for the mayoralty race in Manila in case he seeks the presidency.
“There will be no more democracy. If the two are disqualified, I will be forced to run to preserve democracy in the country. If he (Binay) is jailed, he cannot run and campaign. It’s like he is disqualified,” Estrada said.