Erap will now catch up in surveys, ally says
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision upholding the candidacy of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada gets him back on track in the presidential race, according to Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said Estrada's supporters will now go all out for him since their fear that their votes for Estrada will only go to waste has been eliminated.
"He’ll get the support of the masses and the people after this dismissal by the Comelec. It will therefore remove in the minds of the people the possibility of disqualification. A case of disqualification case is just a deterring factor for the people to come out in the open that they are for Erap," Rodriguez told House reporters on Wednesday.
"Now, I think those who are inclined to vote for him and his sympathizers will come out say that there is no more disqualification. He is now in the back race. He'll be in the top 3 slots," Rodriguez added.
The 2010 presidential race had been projected as a two-way fight between survey frontrunners Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Manuel Villar.
Aquino and Villar rated 44% and 33%, respectively, in the December 27-28, 2009 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. Estrada ranked third with 15% support.
Masses will shift to Erap?
Rodriguez believes there will be a "drastic change" in the next presidential survey. He warned other candidates that Estrada will likely diminish their voter support bases.
"The votes for Erap, which were hindered by the disqualification case, will now be going back to the Erap. Mababawasan ang lahat ng rate nila. Pupunta na kay Erap ang ibang masses kasi pwede naman pala tumakabo eh," he said.
Rodriguez also dismissed claims that Estrada's candidacy will threaten the chances of opposition candidates because the opposition vote will be divided among several candidates.
"It will not. People will really vote for the opposition, and the opposition will really win this year. Kahit marami pa sila," he said.
Administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro is way behind in the surveys with only 5% support in the December 27-28 SWS survey.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Erap cannot run
I think the COMELEC erred in not disqualifying Erap. The crime for which Erap was convicted involves moral torpitude which disqualifies any citizen from aspiring for public office. To say that the pardon granted by GMA restored the political rights of Erap is a wrong premise. A pardon merely saves the convict from further punishment by cutting short his sentence, but it does not obliterate the crime. If pardon means restoring Erap's political rights, it would be like saying that Erap did not commit a crime, which means invalidating the courts decision, which the executive branch of government is not empowered to do. The correct interpretation of pardon is to recognize that a crime was in fact committed and a punishment was imposed, but the punishment was condoned. The pardon did not condone the crime. What was condoned was the punishment. The crime was never erased and continued to exist inspite of the pardon. If Erap wants the invalidation of the crime, he should go back to the courts and appeal his case. To allow Erap to run for public office on the basis of a pardon is to make a mockery of our laws.
"The Verdict's Candidacy"
As a concern voter.I was just jumping into an intellectual conclusion about the issues of the Former Convicted President Erap Estrada of "Perjury and Plunder"Case.I have just wondering how could he not be Disqualified of the COMELEC's Standard after being convicted and accused of his Presidency last 2003-2004.And,Now he have a high ratings of the Pulse Asia Survey of Running for President again.Isn't it unfair?He was accuse and convicted of his past Presidency's manipulation for him to stay powerful hidden ponder of his "Perjury and Plunder"Verdict matter after all of those years condemnatory justified truths that matter of his Presidency's Carrier.It must be fair.It must be Crime does not pay in the Fair condemnatory Justice that we seeks to prevail in the meaning of democracy.Thanks!
Rodriguez...may toyo....
Will now catch up in surveys, dahil Erap supporters will go all out because their fear that their votes will go to waste has been elimanted...Rodriguez sa tingin mo bobo ba ang buong Pilipinas...kaya nga survey yan di pa yan boto..if totoo madami gusto kay Erap maski sa survey sasabihin nila DAHIL di pa eto botohan..survey lang....huwag mo nga kaming lokohin...buwset
Sinong Gaguhin mo Rodriguez
My foot. Erap is a irrelevant candidate which does not deserve attention. Regardless of the decision of "Komisyon sa Eleksyon", it doesnt have any bearing to the voters mind. There are only two types of people who will vote for Erap: The first are those people who will benefit from his dumb government (the likes of Maceda, Enrile, etc) and the second are those idiot and stupid for the rest of their lives. Rodriguez, do not ever think that all the masses are idiots. Most of them are inteligent and will not believe even a single word you said or will say. Erap can never be for the masses since he himself is not among those people. The only connection he has to poor is thru jueteng which he used to enrich himself along with his handfull of "harem" or kabits or mistress.
We have a worst government at this moment but it does'nt mean that we will be opted to choose a bit lesser inept kind of government.
Erap and his cohorts thinks that their "mafia" kind of government will emerge again. You are deadly wrong.
There's a big chance that
There's a big chance that Erap will win the Philippine presidential election. Most of the Philippine population are poor.