Erap-Villar Bataan visit draws GMA allies, crowds

Even Arroyo allies appear to already smell an opposition victory in 2010, as they joined former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. as Estrada came to Orani, Bataan, for the former leader's Thankgiving Caravan which travels through four towns.

In attendance were Bataan Gov. Enrique "Tet" Garcia, an Arroyo stalwart, who welcomed the prominent visitors. Also present was former Subic Bay chief Felicisimo "Tong" Payumo.

Estrada and Villar, who hails from the province, arrived in Dinalupihan via chopper where awaiting large crowds greeted the two leaders.

Also joining Erap were his wife, former Sen. Luisa "Loi" Ejercito-Estrada, former Senate President Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, Repsresentatives Abigail Binay, TG Guingona, Gilbert Remulla and lawyer Adel Tamano. Villar was accompanied by his wife, Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Erap and Villar acknowledged the "unwavering support" of the people of Bataan in their individual speeches.

The two leaders also visited the ancestral house of Villar in Orani before proceeding to Mariveles and Balanga.

Estrada said, "This is my way of thanking the people of Bataan who have overwhelmingly supported me since my days as an actor."

Villar, Nacionalista Party president, said, "It is a great honor to be with a friend, who is very much loved by the masses, and loved by Bataan, President Estrada."

In a slight hint at his becoming the next president, Villar said: "Being from Orani (Bataan), I believe that the time will come when Bataan and my provincemates will be prominently known."
The Sangguniang Bayan of Orani issued a resolution expressing appreciation to the two "sons of Orani" for "continually supporting the local government unit's projects and programs intended to benefit the people."

Bataan was festooned with balloons, while baton twirlers moved to the beat of the band. The atmosphere was similar to a political campaign, and questions posed to Estrada as well as Villar centered on the political plans of Estrada and the Senate President, who is a Bataan native.

Estrada reiterated that all he really wants is to get the opposition to unite behind a single presidential and vice presidential candidate, along with a Senate slate, all of whom he pledged to endorse and support-as long as the opposition unites behind a single opposition slate, which Estrada also said, will undergo a process.

The former president, whose endorsement factor is known to be effective, as he has proved during the senatorial elections that he can transfer his popularity among the masses to the candidates he endorses, was asked if he is set to endorse Villar as his presidential bet.

He stressed that the selection process is to be supervised not just by him, but by a council of opposition leaders.

Asked his criteria for a presidential candidate he will likely support, Estrada said the opposition bet should be pro-poor in words and deed and that the candidate should be strong on anti-corruption in government.

But Estrada appeared to have hinted that Villar may well be his personal choice, as he openly stated that Villar, having grown up poor, and worked days and nights as a fish vendor, was pro-poor.

But to the queries of his probable anointed, Estrada replied: " I can't give you the right answer as of now. I cannot endorse anybody yet in fairness to other presidential aspirants. There are five of them in the opposition all of whom are presidential aspirants, so there should not be hurt feelings. There is a process for unification among the aspirants. This is what I am working on, and stressing-just one candidate. If Senate President Villar is picked, that would be better, but I am not dictating on who should be the opposition choice. There will be a process," Estrada stressed.

Maceda also stated that there must first be a determination of who has the best chance of winning. "This can be determined by a series of surveys three times in 2009, to begin with."

Estrada promised that he will help in the campaign of those who will run for president, vice president and senator. "But I won't say who I will support because I don't want to make a mistake and you might blame me...But I already told you something good earlier. It's up to you to decide who I am referring to," he told the crowd.

Villar cut in, telling the audience that "to be fair to our visitor (Estrada) let us not talk about the 2010 presidential race. There are many other issues that the President is ready to reply to. To be fair to him, don't ask these questions (on the presidential race) first."

Estrada reiterated that he is not running for the presidency in 2004, which he has been saying for sometime now. However, Estrada himself has mentioned time and again that if the political opposition does not unite behind a single presidential candidate, he may just run for the same office.

For its part, Malacañang shrugged off Estrada's visits around the country.

"My line as far as former President Joseph Estrada is concerned: "Let him be". If that is what he wants to do, he can do so, instead to reacting to whatever he does or says," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in his weekly press briefing, but stressed that the Palace is not intimidated by the nationwide political visits of Estrada in his alleged preparations for the 2010 presidential polls.

"Let us give it to former President Estrada. He has to move around. He is a very good subject for mass media. Every time he speaks or does something, media cover him. We have to admit that he is a very, very popular personality," he said.

He added that he is not aware on whether Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia has communicated with Estrada.

" I know that Governor Garcia is a significant member of the Coalition. He is an official of Ulap. I am not even sure whether the former President and Governor Garcia are in constant contact with each other. The bottom line is "let it be" the way the former President wants to project his own position," the Executive Secretary said. Tribune.net With Angie M. Rosales and Sherwin C. Olaes