Binay fading, Estrada rising – Trillanes
MANILA, Philippines – Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada remains a “political force” to reckon with and a “viable option” of the opposition should Vice President Jejomar Binay decide to back out from the 2016 presidential race, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Wednesday.
Trillanes was confident that Binay, who is facing corruption allegations, would eventually withdraw from the race.
“That’s how I see it happening, he (Binay) will eventually back out,” he said.
And if the Vice President withdraws from the race, then Trillanes said Estrada could become a “viable option of the opposition.”
The senator recognized that both Binay and Estrada are “political forces” and should not be taken lightly.
Senator Grace Poe, whose name has been mentioned as possible candidate for president, also recognized that Estrada will always be “politically relevant” in Philippine politics.
“Erap will always be relevant in Philippine politics parang he always has that unwavering percentage of the population that supports him,” Poe said in a separate interview when sought for comments on the Supreme Court’s decision junking the disqualification case against the former leader.
She said she was happy that the Supreme Court has decided on the matter, saying it has put to rest the question , which has been hounding Estrada for so long.
“As I said, there’s always an unwavering percentage and Erap, whether or not he won this case, will always be politically relevant. Will it boost it? At least now there’s one obstacle away if he wants to run for higher office, then it will be easier for him,” Poe added.
But Estrada’s son, Senator Joseph Ejercito “JV” Estrada, preferred that his father should just retire from politics when his term ends in 2016.
“(He has) nothing more to prove e… Ako personally, mas gusto ko mag-enjoy na lang say ng retirement, enjoy his time with his family kasi more than half of his life in public service already,” Ejercito added.
