Erap 99.9% sure of running for president
There is 99.9 per cent chance that former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada will run for president in next year’s presidential election.
Estrada himself made the pronouncement during a press conference at Westown Hotel in Iloilo City yesterday morning.
It was learned that Estrada previously declared that he will run for president if the opposition groups could not field a single presidential candidate.
“It now seems impossible that the opposition will field only one presidential candidate. It means there is 99.9 percent chance that I myself will be running for president,” Estrada yesterday said.
Estrada along with other opposition officials were in Iloilo City yesterday for the last leg of their “Lakbay Pasasalamat” in Western Visayas. Last Monday, the group were in the province of Antique.
With Estrada during the press conference were former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, former Agriculture Secretary Horacio Morales, Joey De Venecia, Rep. Bong-bong Marcos, and other officials of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), Estrada’s political party.
Asked whether he already has in mind his probable running mate, Estrada begged to answer the question saying talks are still ongoing as to who will be their vice presidential candidate.
Estrada cited the many projects he had given to the city and province of Iloilo during his two and a half year stint as president of the country.
He mentioned the Iloilo Airport which, he said, was included in Japan’s Obuchi fund because of his persistent efforts.
Estrada also cited that he allocated the initial fund for the construction of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol through then Governor, now Rep. Arthur Defensor after it was burned in 1998.
The former president also said that he had alloted millions of pesos for the construction of the road network in the fifth district of Iloilo through then Reprentative, now Vice Governor Rolex Suplico.
“I have given enough for Iloilo in just a span of two and a half years. That is why Iloilo is very close to my heart,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, Maceda, who is also the chairman of PMP, said that they are working to complete their slate before the filing of certificate of candidacy in November.
He said, currently there are 22 names where they could choose their candidate for senator under the United Opposition.
However, he said as of this time only eight are considered the highly probable ones, namely: Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Gen. Danny Lim, Grace Poe, former Sen. Serge Osmeña III, Rep. Teddy Boy Locsin Jr., Joey De Venecia, and Rep. Bong-bong Marcos.