11 pro-Estrada senators now more popular than ever — Ople

Might as well be writ in granite.

The 11 senators who voted against opening the second envelope in the impeachment trial of ousted President Estrada are "more popular after EDSA II," according to Senate President Pro Tempore Blas Ople.

"Pinagkakaguluhan ng mga tao ang labing-isang senador, maging si Miriam (The people are now swarming over the 11 senators, including Miriam)," he said of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of the more controversial senators.

Santiago was supposed to run for re-election this May, but she said she was putting her plans on hold "unless she is dared to run anew."

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the 11, said he would no longer seek re-election. He expressed fears that he would only be cheated "just like in 1987" because the administration is against him.

The remaining re-electionist of the 11 senators, Gregorio Honasan, said he is still weighing his options, while stressing that politics remains farthest from his mind.

The other senators who voted against opening the second envelope were John Osmeña, Tessie Aquino Oreta, Vicente Sotto III, Nikki Coseteng, Ramon Revilla and Robert Jaworski.

At the same time, Ople rejected the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines that all 11 senators, including himself, apologize to the Filipino people for their "no" vote on the second envelope.

He dared the bishops to weigh themselves against the 11 senators to find out who really are wanting.

He said that because of this popularity of the 11 senators, there is a great chance for a majority of the Laban senatorial candidates to win in the May elections.

He also contended that the administration of President Arroyo is not as popular as pictured by her supporters.

"There were many questions about her after a very short time," he explained.

Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat also noted the results of a survey by the "Debate Mare at Pare" public affairs program of GMA-7 the other night where a majority questioned the legality of her assumption of office.

Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino, secretary general of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, said that the President continues to suffer from a low rating.

"When she joined the Erap Cabinet, she lost supporters from the A, B, and upper C classes of society. When she left Erap, she lost lower C, D, and E," Aquino explained. – Efren Danao