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By Efren L. Danao Senior Reporter
DINALUPIHAN, Bataan: Senate
President Manuel Villar Jr. said he regretted that the term of
former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada was cut short by more
than three years.
Estrada was to have ruled from
1998 to 2004 but was ousted in 2001 through the so-called people’s
revolt EDSA 2.
Villar, who joined Estrada in the
latter’s Lakbay Pasasalamat (trip of gratitude) to Bataan on
Wednesday noted that the shortened tenure of Estrada had prevented
him from giving more service to the people.
“It is a great honor to be with
Erap,” he said. “It is deeply regretful that he was not able to
serve the people longer for he is truly a man of the masses.”
It was the first time that
Estrada and Villar shared the same stage since the 2001 impeachment
of Estrada, as pointed out by former Sen. Ernesto Maceda.
While Villar regretted the
cutting short of Estrada’s six-year term because of EDSA 2 on
January 21, 2001, he did not express any regret over his role in the
impeachment trial. It was Villar’s unexpected transmission of the
impeachment complaint during a supposed opening prayer at the House
of Representatives that led to Estrada’s impeachment trial at the
Senate.
“That was part of the
constitutional process,” Villar explained. “Anyway, what was
clear was that his term was cut short and this prevented him from
giving a longer service to the people.”
Estrada said he bore no rancor
toward Villar and even stressed that he would support Villar if he
is chosen as the opposition’s common candidate for President in
the 2010 elections. His son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, even supported
Villar over Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. in the race for the Senate
presidency that divided the opposition.
Estrada, however, stopped short
of endorsing Villar outright, saying the opposition will follow a
process in selecting its common candidate. He pointed out that there
are other opposition stalwarts who want to run in 2010 also. Aside
from Villar, the perceived presidential aspirants from the
opposition are Senators Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson and Mar Roxas
2nd, and Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City.
Villar, whose mother was a native
of Orani, Bataan, also cautioned against forcing Estrada into
committing his support for any aspirant, saying 2010 is still too
far away.
While Estrada had good words for
Villar, he continued to lash at the elite and the church for
conspiring to unseat him.
He said he chose Bataan as the
first province to visit in 2008 because he and his family owed a
debt of gratitude to its residents for always giving them
overwhelming victories at the polls.
His visit also drew opposing
personalities to the stage. Maceda noted that Estrada’s visit
marked the first time that Gov. Enrique Garcia of Bataan and former
Rep. Felicito Payumo were on the same stage.
“With the leadership of Erap
and Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., I believe that the same kind
of unity would be repeated in other places,” Maceda said.
Mending fences
Unlike President Gloria Arroyo
who supposedly had granted him unconditional pardon to foster unity
with the political opposition, Estrada set a condition for possible
reconciliation with her.
In Orani town, which he also
visited, Estrada said he will be willing to reconcile with President
Arroyo but “only for the common good.”
He still accuses the President
and her supporters of having conspired in ousting and then
impeaching him in 2001. After his removal from office, he was
charged with plunder. The antigraft court Sandiganbayan took more
than six years to try Estrada’s case. Last year, he was found
guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment but was shortly
pardoned by Mrs. Arroyo. The convicted former president has since
declared that he will give up politics and not run for public office
again.
He seemed to have kept his word,
telling Orani residents that never again will he contest the
presidency. “I can serve our people, especially the poor, and, in
doing so, there is no need for me to be President during the
remaining years of my life.” He, however, did not say if he also
was not interested in running for any congressional or
local-government seats.
Estrada took a swipe at the
administration, saying it has no good candidate for the presidency
while the opposition has many good ones to choose from.
He added that he wants warring
political factions in Bataan to unite for the good of the province.
“I want it to be replicated all
over the country.”
From Orani, Estrada flew by
helicopter to Mariveles town, site of the Bataan Economic Zone. In
the afternoon, he was back in Balanga City, the provincial capital,
and led a motorcade around the city.
In Dinalupihan and Orani,
thousands of residents lined the streets to welcome the former
President and his party, which also included his wife, former
senator Dr. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito.
--With Ernie B. Esconde
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