MANILA, Philippines -- Soon, Joseph Estrada will be stumping the country on a spanking new $1.6-million helicopter --but like President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he is keeping the nation guessing on his political plans for 2010.

The ousted leader yesterday said he expected the brand new, European-made chopper, an AS-350 Ecureuil (Squirrel), to be delivered next month.

He said he was buying the helicopter with two friends as a business investment and in preparation for the 2010 elections.

“I’m not the sole owner,” Estrada told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He did not disclose the names of the two co-owners.

Estrada said he would wait until September to make up his mind on whether to run in next year’s presidential election.

“Nothing is final. I will continue going to the provinces to feel the pulse of the people. Then, I will wait for the survey results,” he said.

A King Air, too

News that Estrada had bought a new helicopter came from his close ally, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who said the ex-president bought not just one but two choppers.

In fact, Enrile said in an interview on dzBB yesterday that Estrada had also bought a King Air jet plane and 20 vans.

Enrile said Estrada, whom he had accompanied in trips around the country, made those purchases 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.

Enrile said other presidential aspirants faced tough sailing if Estrada ran.

Saying he had just come from a sortie with the former President, Enrile marveled at the huge crowds that came to see Estrada.

Still drawing crowds

“If you let presidential candidates stand in various corners in Metro Manila, let’s see where people will flock to,” the Senate president said in Filipino. “They will really a have problem with Erap.”

Estrada, however, denied in a phone interview that he had bought a second helicopter, a private plane and 20 vans.

“What for?” he said, referring to his supposed purchase of a King Air.

“What do you do with it after the campaign? It’s better to lease or borrow from friends, libre pa (and it’s even for free),” he said.

Just kidding

Estrada said he had been using vans and coasters borrowed from friends for his trips, to add to his fleet of 10 roving cinema vans he acquired in 1998, mostly from donations.

“Nagbibiro lang kami (We were just joking),” Estrada said of Enrile’s statement.

“I don’t have that much money. I even get paid for commercials.”

Regarding his plans for 2010, Estrada said: “I haven’t filed my certificate of candidacy yet. Maybe in September, my plans will be clearer.“

Ms Arroyo, who pardoned Estrada last year after the Sandiganbayan convicted him of plunder, is also keeping her cards close to her chest.

She has refused all comment on reports she plans to run for Congress next year.