Binay fading, Estrada rising – Trillanes

erap-estrada-jejomar-binay

MANILA, Philippines – Former President and now Manila  Mayor Joseph Estrada remains a “political force” to reckon with and a “viable  option” of the opposition  should Vice President Jejomar Binay decide to back out from the 2016 presidential race, Senator Antonio  Trillanes IV said on Wednesday.

Trillanes was confident that Binay, who is facing  corruption allegations, would eventually withdraw from the race.

“That’s how I see it happening, he (Binay) will eventually back out,”  he said.

And if the Vice President withdraws from the race, then Trillanes said  Estrada  could become a “viable option of the opposition.”

The senator recognized that both Binay and Estrada are “political forces” and should not be taken lightly.

Senator Grace  Poe,  whose name has been mentioned as  possible  candidate  for president,  also  recognized that  Estrada will always be “politically relevant” in  Philippine politics.

“Erap will always be relevant in  Philippine politics  parang he always has that unwavering percentage of the population that supports  him,”  Poe said in a separate interview when sought for comments on the  Supreme Court’s  decision junking the disqualification case against the former leader.

She said she was happy  that the Supreme  Court has decided  on the matter, saying it has  put to rest the question , which has been hounding  Estrada for so long.

“As I said, there’s always an unwavering percentage and Erap, whether or not he won this case,  will always be politically relevant. Will it boost it? At least now there’s one obstacle away if he wants to run for higher office, then it will be easier for him,”  Poe  added.

But  Estrada’s son, Senator   Joseph Ejercito  “JV” Estrada, preferred that  his father should  just  retire  from politics when his  term ends in 2016.

“(He has) nothing more to prove e… Ako personally,  mas  gusto  ko mag-enjoy  na lang say ng retirement, enjoy his time  with his family kasi more than half of his life in public service already,” Ejercito  added.

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