Erap embarks on last performance of his life

Seeking vindication after his ouster from the presidency and conviction for plunder, Joseph Estrada asked Filipinos yesterday to give him a second chance.

“This is the last performance of my life and I will not fail you,” the former president told a cheering crowd in Tondo, Manila, where he announced his plan to run in the 2010 elections, with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate.

Expecting legal challenges to his bid, Estrada said the voice of the people is the voice of God, and voters should be the final judge.

He also announced his tentative senatorial slate: his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., ZTE scandal whistle-blower Joey de Venecia, detained rebel leader Danny Lim, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Ompong Plaza. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is a guest candidate.

At his presidential inaugural in 1998, Estrada, a former movie star, had promised to deliver “the greatest performance of my life.” He was ousted less than halfway into his term and replaced by his vice president and constitutional successor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

With Binay, Estrada said, he could rest assured that his vice president would not be plotting behind his back to bring him down.

Estrada said Binay could help turn the country into another Makati, a city where the masses receive heavy social protection protection including free education, health care and even free admission in moviehouses for senior citizens.

In his speech, Estrada decried that he had been unjustly detained for six years and isolated from his family and supporters.

“I have followed the law and I have already forgotten all the lies and charges leveled against me. But you did not leave me,” he said referring to his supporters.

He said it’s his mission to deliver the country from poverty and culture of corruption under the Arroyo administration.

“This administration forgot about education. The budget for education did not even reach half of the country’s debt. We have P2 trillion debts at present and this will rise to P4 trillion by 2010,” he said.

“I took care of Mindanao to make it a food basket, but this administration, through the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain almost gave it up,” Estrada said.

He also vowed to be tougher in dealing with secessionists and terrorists in Mindanao.

“Mindanao will not progress if we will not finish all these kinds of terrorism. Corruption in government is rampant,” he said.

He said that under his administration, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF lost its camps in Mindanao.

He also took a swipe at the “elitists” whom he accused of having conspired to have him removed.

“Vox populi, vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God. But the elitists are not listening to voice of the people that is why we are here now,” he said. “Are we better off today than in 2001?”

Rivals are expected to challenge his candidacy before the Supreme Court and invoke a constitutional ban on a second term for any president.

source: Philstar.com
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An ex-president booted out through People Power due to various allegations of corruption and issues on morality will be running again for presidency .....only in the Philippines.  Are there legal limitations on Erap's move?

JonQBX