DAVAO CITY – Former President Joseph Estrada arrived here yesterday meet with local political leaders and unite the opposition in Mindanao and other parts of the country.
“I go around the country to unite the opposition and it includes those who are in Mindanao also,” Estrada told reporters here yesterday.
Estrada was quick to point out that his provincial trips are not part of the United Opposition’s strategy for the 2010 presidential elections.
“2010 is still too far away,” Estrada said, adding that he does not have any plans of running for president in 2010.
He brushed aside insinuations that he would be the opposition’s presidential candidate in 2010 even if stickers marked “ERAP 2010: Leader ng Bayan” were distributed by his supporters to residents who welcomed the former president.
Estrada stressed that Mindanao has a soft spot in his heart and he is an ardent believer of the tremendous potentials of the South.
“Mindanao is the country’s food basket and it has big potentials in terms of tourism,” he said.
He said that during his term he gave the allocated the biggest budget that Mindanao got in the previous years.
He also urged government to be more firm and decisive in dealing with the security and peace and order problems besetting Mindanao.
“Government should fight for Mindanao,” Estrada said.
Estrada explained that his trip to Southern Mindanao was made after he was invited by Digos City Mayor Arsenio Latasa to join the 8th anniversary celebration of the town, which became a city while he was still president.
Estrada’s group also attended an afternoon Holy Mass at the Redemptorist Church in Davao City. – Edith Regalado