Senatorial aspirant Jinggoy Estrada, president of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, joins the 75th birthday celebration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Pampanga on Monday, April 4, 2022. Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — Demonstrating the “unity” platform of their UniTeam ticket, returning senator Jinggoy Estrada has reunited his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
During Arroyo’s 75th birthday celebration attended by UniTeam candidates in Pampanga on Monday, April 4, the younger Estrada served as a bridge for the two former presidents who used to be bitter political rivals.
Their parties – Arroyo’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino – are now part of the alliance of parties supporting the tandem of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and vice presidential bet Sara Duterte dubbed as “UniTeam.”
The UniTeam is running on the main platform of national unity, which they said is needed for the country’s recovery from the pandemic and national progress.
Estrada, who shared that Pampanga is close to his heart since his wife, Precy, hails from the province, linked his father to Arroyo via a phone patch connected to the venue’s public address system.
Erap and Arroyo greeted each other.
“We need you. Please consider running again. I’ll be your campaign manager. More power to you madam president!” Erap told Arroyo.
READ: Erap greets Arroyo happy birthday: ‘I hope you run again, we need you’
In response, Arroyo thanked Erap and also greeted him as he is also set to celebrate his 85th birthday on April 19.
“We need you also,” she told Erap.
The elder Estrada was elected as president in 1998, with Arroyo as Vice President. When Erap was ousted after the so-called EDSA People Power 2 in 2001, Arroyo assumed the presidency via constitutional succession.
Arroyo was elected president in 2004 and granted executive clemency to Erap in 2007 after he was convicted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan.
Arroyo is currently running for a congressional post in Pampanga’s second district.