Didagen Dilangalen, the former congressman from Mindanao who made "Shut up!" a household phrase, has found himself a new job to match his capacity for discourse — as "official spokesman" of deposed President Joseph Estrada.
"Digs," as friends and colleagues call the three-term representative from Maguindanao, is back in the limelight after a two-month absence from the news. He figured prominently in the tumultuous congressional canvass that ended on June 24 with the proclamation of President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro.
Dilangalen ended his term as representative on June 30. He was succeeded in his post by his wife, Bai Sendig.
"I’m not doing anything anyway. Besides, Erap and I have always been talking to each other. In fact, I was (at Estrada’s Tanay resthouse) last Sunday (Aug. 22)," he told The STAR in a phone interview.
Dilangalen, who lost his bid for a Senate seat under the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, will replace "temporary" spokesman Rolly Ramirez.
He said he will speak to the press on behalf of his close friend not just on questions about the plunder case in the Sandiganbayan but also on issues of politics and governance.
"I have no salary here. We are friends anyway. It’s more of necessity than anything else. The Sandiganbayan doesn’t want Erap to speak. There’s a prohibition. But maybe, sooner or later, Erap will find a replacement for me. I’m just here to help," he said.
Estrada defended and justified his choice for a new spokesman. He described Dilangalen as "very knowledgeable, straightforward" and praised his integrity as a lawyer and former lawmaker.
"He also follows the law to the letter. He’s also a constitutionalist. A learned and very brave man. He studies the issues very hard," he said.
Dilangalen was a champion debater when he was taking up law at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he was a member of the Aquila Legis fraternity.
On Estrada’s plans for knee surgery in Singapore, Dilangalen said court-appointed lawyers led by Jose Flaminiano will file their request before the Sandiganbayan for a new medical furlough "anytime soon."
Singapore will be Estrada’s third choice of venue after it was found out that the surgery would cost too much in Switzerland. Estrada had originally wanted the surgery to be performed in the United States but the US turned down his visa application because of the plunder charges against him.
Filipinos don’t need a visa to visit Singapore.
"I think Dr. Christopher Mow (Estrada’s surgeon of choice) will have to go to Singapore and perform the operation there," he said.