MANILA - Sen. Jose 'Jinggoy' Estrada on Wednesday said he is ready to replace his father, former President Joseph Estrada, as the standard-bearer of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) in case the latter is disqualified from taking part in next year's elections.

In an interview in Aklan province, Jinggoy said he is ready for any eventuality, including the possibility of running as president should the Commission on Elections (Comelec) or the Supreme Court disqualify his father from running in the May 10, 2010 polls.

Former Pres. Estrada said on Wednesday that he expects a legal battle after he files his certificate of candidacy for president, and his legal team is already prepared to respond to the petitions that will be filed.

Estrada's political adviser, former Sen. Ernesto Maceda, said he is confident the Comelec and the Supreme Court will act quickly on the legal challenges to Estrada's presidential bid due to the need to meet earlier deadlines for the printing of ballots for automated elections.

Maceda said the 1987 Charter only bars an incumbent president from seeking re-election, and Estrada should not be covered by the ban since he was not able to complete his six year term. Estrada took office in June 1998 but was ousted through a military-backed civilian revolt in January 2001.

Estrada insists that he is not covered by the Constitutional provision which allows only one term for the president, arguing that the ban only applies to a sitting president.

He has also argued that while the Sandiganbayan convicted him of plunder, the absolute pardon extended to him by President Arroyo restored his civil and political rights, which means he can vote and run for public office.

Jinggoy to run under PMP, not NP

Sen. Estrada said he was invited to run as a guest candidate for senator of Sen. Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party (NP), but he has decided to run under PMP.

Estrada was in Aklan where he spearheaded the oath taking of 18 local candidates vying for mayoralty and vice mayoralty posts under the United Opposition (UNO)-PMP.

Pres. Estrada's camp, meanwhile, admitted that six in their senatorial lineup are just guest candidates who are members of other political parties.

Maceda said UNO-PMP will soon be completing its lineup, and one of the main factors for choosing who to support is "winnability."

Maceda said the UNO-PMP does not want to have a senatorial line-up just for the sake of having one.

He believes that it is not a good sign if the party is not able to complete its senatorial line-up, since this gives the impression that the party is weak.

Maceda said many aspirants are discouraged from running for the Senate due to lack of funds and the fierce competition for only 12 seats.

Estrada, meanwhile, said his former Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma may be included in their lineup. They are also waiting for the decision of the daughter of the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., Mary Grace Poe, on whether she will continue her plan to run for the Senate. -- reports from Sheryll Mundo, ABS-CBN News; John Mark Guda, ABS-CBN Iloilo