Kate Gordon: Erap pardoned too soon

Former Olongapo City Mayor Kate Gordon believes former President Joseph Estrada should not be in the May 10 presidential race.

She, however, clarified this was her own opinion and not her husband's, Bagumbayan standard-bearer Richard 'Dick' Gordon.

In an interview over ANC's Headstart on Wednesday, Mrs. Gordon also said Estrada was pardoned too soon after he was convicted in 2007 for plunder.

"He had the trial for 6 years, he stayed in Tanay, he was very comfortable in Tanay, and then when the decision came out, I think it was after several months when he was pardoned, I think the opportunity should have been given for people to see that our government and the Filipino people are going to be fair. Everybody is equal in the eyes of the law, no matter if you are president, past president, if you are a general, a magsasaka (farmer) or jeepney driver, no matter who you are. The law should be equal among all," Mrs. Gordon aded.

Sen. Gordon and Estrada clashed in the past.

In 1998, after Estrada became president, he ordered Gordon's removal as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Challenging campaign

Mrs. Gordon, meantime, admitted her husband's campaign is a big challenge to them both since they cannot match the resources of their rivals.

She added that she does not believe in surveys since the 3,000 Filipinos questioned in polls cannot represent the voice of all the voters.

"Minsan, medyo nakakalungkot, yung mindset ng tao sa surveys na lamang, dito na lang tayo maniniwala. Ang surveys kasi, 3,000 the most na yan, 3,000 all over the Philipipines. Supposedly, sa apat na sulok ng Pilipinas na kinukuha ang opinyon ng mga tao. So how can 3,000 people decide for the 40 million plus people that will vote for the presidency?" Mrs. Gordon said.

Some have said Gordon should have sought the presidency years ago, but Mrs. Gordon said her husband was still preoccupied with the conversion of Subic from a military base to a free port economic zone.

"It wasn't finished yet. Subic is like 187 hectares. It could provide hundreds of thousands of jobs, and at that time, there were only about 25,000 (jobs). We lost 45,000, marami pa ang humihingi na ipagpatuloy pa ang liderato ni Dick Gordon. It was a difficult decision," she said.

Despite their difficulties in this year's presidential race, Mrs. Godon said both she and her husband are bent on finishing their campaign. By Joel Caballero, ANC