MANILA, Philippines—Saying he was left with no option but to run in 2010, deposed president Joseph Estrada will announce his vice-presidential running mate and senatorial slate on October 21, in Tondo, Manila, the urban heartland of the mass of poor Filipinos who idolize the former movie star.

A highly reliable source told the Inquirer that Estrada has picked Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his running mate.

Estrada said he had offered the vice-presidential slot in his ticket to Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda, and Binay.

He said among those being considered for his senatorial lineup are Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Makati Representative Teodoro Locsin Jr., Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, movie actor Edu Manzano, detained alleged coup plotter Danilo Lim and Mary Grace Poe, the daughter of his best buddy, the late movie star and 2004 losing presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr.

Estrada had also reserved two senatorial seats for “allied groups,” the source said.

Estrada said he was seeking a chance to become president again for the sake of the poor masses who he said lost the chance to have their lives improved when he was ousted in the second Edsa people power uprising of January 2001.

“I am so frustrated because I was not able to continue my program for the poor people. And I was not able to bring this country back to its image, that this is an honest-to-goodness government and a sovereign nation,” he said in an interview.

“I want to leave a legacy as the champion of the masses,” he said.

“The presidency is a destiny. At this point in time, I can easily retire. Campaigning is difficult and very strenuous. But one has to make a sacrifice for the Filipino masses. And I want to do it.”

If elected, Estrada said he would pursue his plans to end the Muslim and communist insurgencies, which would allow the economy to prosper. He said the Filipino poor would benefit from a robust economy.

And if within three years, this “vision” is attained, he will step down and hand over the reins of government to his vice president.

Estrada, 72, will be the oldest candidate in the May 10 presidential election. Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD have declared their intention to run.

Escudero of the Nationalist People’s Coalition has said he would make a formal announcement this month. He was scheduled to announce his presidential plans, if any, on his 40th birthday Saturday. Then, it was moved to Monday, which was further postponed on Saturday, according to his aides. The deadline for the filing of candidacy certificates is November 30.

Estrada admitted that he faces a tough fight.

“It’s an uphill battle. But I’m used to uphill battles. I will just work hard, campaign hard and the rest is destiny,” he said.

He said he would explain to the people the injustice supposedly done to him by the Arroyo administration.

Following a six-year trial, Estrada was found guilty of plunder for collecting bribes from illegal gambling and stock market manipulation in September 2007 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. However, he was pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo almost immediately after.

Estrada said he would not prosecute Arroyo, who has been accused of corruption, if he wins another term as president but would not stop others from doing so.

“I am a forgiving man. What she did to me, she took away the presidency and put me behind bars, I have forgiven her. But she has to answer to the people what she did to them. She will be charged in court,” he said.