MANILA, Philippines?Was it a simple oversight or did he deliberately junk his very own running mate?

Former president Joseph Estrada cast his ballot on Monday in the country?s first nationwide automated elections but apparently did not vote for Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, his vice presidential candidate.

Estrada failed to pick anyone for the position as shown in a photo taken by the Philippine Daily Inquirer?s Nino Jesus Orbeta while the ousted leader was feeding his ballot into the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City.

Estrada looked surprised when his attention was called to the omission.

?Of course not!? was his initial reaction.

He then admitted he had inadvertently skipped Binay?s name on the ballot but claimed he eventually corrected the supposed oversight. He did not say how he was able to correct the oversight?when his ballot had already been swallowed by the machine.

?Pati nga si JV nakaligtaan ko eh (I even forgot to vote for JV),? he told reporters, referring to his son, outgoing San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, who is running for Congress unopposed.

Estrada downplayed the incident, saying it happened only because he had left his prepared list of candidates with his security officer.

?That?s nothing. Mayor Binay would not believe those people who would say that [I dropped him]. Our bond of friendship is strong," Estrada said in Filipino, referring to critics who might read malice into what happened.

?These people probably have nothing better to do. Even right up to election day, they would sow intrigues."

Estrada took eight minutes to fill out his ballot

Binay could not be reached for comment despite persistent calls by the Inquirer.

The odd incident came about a week after Senator Francis Escudero declared his support for the so-called ?Noy-Bi? tandem of Senator Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III of the Liberal Party and Binay.

Before that, there had been rumors that Binay had been playing both sides, that of Aquino and of Estrada. But Binay denied the rumor, declaring that Estrada ?is my leader, he is my candidate and I will campaign for him.?

In his campaign speeches, Estrada often said he would be able to sleep soundly at night "if Binay were my vice president.?

Estrada, garbed in white jacket over an orange checkered polo, cast his vote at 11:55 a.m.

Before that, he heard Mass at the Antipolo Church, then visited his parents? graves at the San Juan cemetery.

Estrada said he went through his ballot ?three times? to make sure he skipped no one among the candidates under his ticket.

Asked if he was nervous when he voted, he said: ?No." So why the oversight? ?Bago eh (It was novel)," he said, referring to the new voting system.

Based on the Inquirer photo, Estrada voted for 11 senatorial candidates. His Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) ticket had a total of 11 contenders for the Senate, including guest candidates. Among his choices was former Sen. Sergio ?Serge? Osmena III of the Liberal Party.

Estrada denied he picked only 11 candidates.

?Pati si Maambong, naambunan ko rin (I showered my graces even on Maambong),? he said in jest, referring to ex-Justice Regalado Maambong, who was hardly seen in PMP rallies during the 90-day campaign.

Estrada said he had shaded only four slots for councilors and had to be reminded by JV about the two other names in their party?s ticket.