Now, the wise Ex-President Mayor Erap has spoken, proving that he was no fool of the lord of Makati for his zigging and zagging about Jinggoy as his vp running mate choice. Should this not give Binay endless whole day – whole nights in open eyes, no more sleep in the night? Erap said a lot about his bosom friend FPJ to be the reason why he would campaign and support Senator Grace if and when she runs for president. We laud him for that. However, there should be no hidden caveat, no string attached, if and when he does what he said about “Amazing” Grace for president, even himself and his loved ones she should not make sacred cows relative to crimes to the people they might have committed. By the way, we hope that he is not saying this because he could also see like a seer that if and when Senator Grace runs for president, she would be the sure winner. +++++ Erap to support Poe against Binay By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer 12:15 AM | Monday, December 15th, 2014 opinion.inquirer.net/80948/erap-to-support-poe-against-binay Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada was at the Tap Room of the Manila Hotel last Dec. 11 to listen to Margaux Salcedo sing. I was seated beside him and we talked politics. I said the survey ratings of his friend Vice President Jojo Binay are plunging while those of Sen. Grace Poe, another friend, are shooting up. If the trend continues, the presidential race in 2016 may be a tossup between Binay and Poe, both of whom are his friends. “When that happens, whom will Erap and his Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino support?” I asked Erap pointblank. Without hesitation, he answered: “I will have a difficult time, but I will choose Grace.” “Why?” I asked. “Grace is the daughter of my best friend FPJ (Fernando Poe Jr.) who is more than a brother to me,” Erap answered. “We have gone through a lot together. Together, we fought the Big Four criminal syndicate that was victimizing movie actors and actresses. When I ran for president, he helped me. He stopped making movies so he would have time to campaign for me. “When it was his turn to run for president, I was not able to campaign for him because I was already imprisoned, although it was I who convinced him to run. Now that his daughter Grace may run for president, I have to help her. It’s the only way I can repay FPJ. My conscience will bother me if I don’t support her. Baka pag multuhan nya pa ako (He may even haunt me).” “What about Binay?” “Eh, bahala na siya.” It was Erap who helped Binay win as vice president in the 2010 elections. Binay was his running mate in the PMP ticket. Erap finished second to P-Noy but Binay beat Mar Roxas. Without Erap’s support, Binay could not have won. After the elections, Binay announced he would go after the presidency (and he has been campaigning since then, in violation of the Commission on Elections rule against premature campaigning). Erap, Binay and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile then formed the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). When Binay had a falling out with his political party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban, a member of the UNA coalition, he left it and said he was going to form another party that would be a member of UNA. Until now, it is not known what that party is or who its members are besides the Binay family. “What about you?” I asked Erap. “You are right behind the leaders in the rankings. If there is a public clamor for you, will you consider running for president?” “I am 76 years old. I may be too old,” Erap answered. “My idol is President Ronald Reagan. He was a grade B movie actor but he became president of the United States, the most powerful nation in the world. If a grade B movie actor like him can be president, why not a grade A actor like me, I asked myself. So I ran for president and won.” Erap continued: “Reagan said, ‘I want to retire while I can still carry my luggage.’ Me, I want to retire while I can still make love.” Erap is known as a ladies’ man and has had several partners with whom he has children. “Does that mean you are losing your ability to make love?” I joked. “Hindi naman, but I am getting old.” After being pardoned by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Erap ran for mayor of Manila and won. The mayor of Manila has always been a contender for the presidency of the Philippines. At present, Erap is facing a disqualification case filed by former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim in the Supreme Court. The issue is whether or not the pardon allowed him to run for political office. The language of the pardon is confusing, hence the controversy. The “whereas” clause says Erap has said he is withdrawing from all political activities, but the dispositive portion gave back all his civil rights, including the right to vote and be voted upon, which means that he can run for public office. Legal experts say the dispositive portion is superior to all the “whereas” clauses. If correct, then Erap can be a candidate for any public office. The Supreme Court is reported to be ready to issue its decision. * * *
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 03:42:03 +0000
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