'Is Erap really serious about unifying opposition?'

MANILA - Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday asked deposed President Joseph 'Erap' Estrada to forego his presidential ambition to help unite the opposition amid the sudden emergence of Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III as a probable contender next year.

“Hindi dapat kung kailan lang lahat susuporta kay Noynoy, tsaka niya sasabihin na susuporta rin siya,” he told reporters.  

He explained that if Estrada withdraws from the race, this would send a strong signal to other presidential aspirants that he is serious in his call to “unify” the opposition.

“Whether we like it or not, Erap is an important opposition symbol,” Lacson said. 

In response, Estrada's spokesperson, Margaux Salcedo, said Lacson has no right to dictate what Estrada should do.

She said Lacson was one of the reasons for the lack of unity in the opposition, which is why Estrada wants to run.

Aquino endorsements

The son of the late President Corazon Aquino has risen to be the possible bet of the Liberal Party (LP) for the presidency after Senator Manuel 'Mar' Roxas II dropped out of the race last Tuesday.

Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, another presidential aspirant, has offered to withdraw in favor of Aquino if he decides to run for president.

Another presidential wannabe, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay has urged the opposition to "rally behind a common presidential candidate for the 2010 election" following Roxas' withdrawal.

Binay said "there is all the more reason for opposition parties and personalities to sit down and address the issue."

Lacson, a losing presidential candidate in the 2004 polls, is also backing Aquino for the 2010 presidential race due to his clean record.

Legal obstacles

Estrada earlier stated that he is “99.9 percent sure” that he will run in the upcoming elections if the opposition cannot field a single candidate.

He previously said that he will meet with other opposition candidates in an attempt to unite the various opposition camps.

Aside from Aquino, those who are expected to run in 2010 from the opposition are Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party, and Senators Francis 'Chiz' Escudero and Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. 

Lacson pointed out, however, that if the former president chooses to pursue his presidential ambition, he would still have to overcome legal obstacles as the 1987 Constitution prohibits elected presidents from seeking re-election.
 
Estrada was ousted from the presidency in January 2001 following a military-backed people power revolt after serving for only two-and-a-half years. Campaigning on a platform of helping the poor, he won the presidency by a near majority in the 1998 presidential elections.

He was found guilty of plunder by the Sandiganbayan in 2007, but was immediately pardoned by President Arroyo on condition he will not run for public office again. However, Mrs. Arroyo also restored Estrada's civil and political rights, which thus creates a legal debate on whether he can run again.

Still, Estrada continues to enjoy a strong following from the public. He rose to the number 2 position in the latest Pulse Asia presidential poll last August with a rating of 19 percent, meaning around one of five Filipinos preferred him to be Arroyo's successor.

Estrada trailed the NP's Villar, who topped the poll with 25 percent.