MANILA, Philippines—Deposed President Joseph Estrada is dead set on running for president next year and is now preparing for such eventuality, his close ally Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Sunday.

Interviwed in Nimfa Rogado-Ravelo's program in dzBB, Enrile disclosed that Estrada, whom he had been accompanying around the country for sometime, had purchased two brand new helicopters and 20 vans for his “political campaign.”

“If that is not proof that he's running, then I don't know what evidence more to say he would run. He will run for president,” said Enrile, a member of Estrada's Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

And he warned those eyeing the presidency that they will have a hard time in their respective bids once Estrada runs.

Saying he had just come from a tour of cities in Mindanao with the former president, Enrile said people were flocking to Estrada.

“If you let presidential candidates stand in various corners in Metro Manila, let's see where people will flock to,” he said.

Enrile expressed the belief that Estrada could still seek reelection as he conceded this legal question should be best decided by the Supreme Court.

In the same news program, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., conceded Estrada had a 10-15 percent lead over the present presidential aspirants.

Estrada won the presidency in 1998 but was deposed in 2001 following controversy over his alleged acceptance of jueteng money. Estrada was detained after being convicted of plunder but his successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, pardoned him in 2007.