Senator Ejercito supports Grace Poe; Jinggoy for Binay; Erap up for grabs

Senators JV Ejercito, Grace Poe, Jinggoy Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay. FILE PHOTOS

The once-politically-solid Estrada clan, whose influence peaked when its patriarch was the tenant in Malacañang, now appears to be breaking up and supporting different candidates in next year’s general elections.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who served as Vice President from 1992 to 1998 and then President from 1998 to 2001, remains the dean of the opposition but is staying away from the aspirations of his United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) partner, Vice President Jejomar Binay, to replace President Benigno Aquino III in the Palace next year.

During Independence Day rites at Rizal Park in Manila on Friday, Estrada made known that he had become the latest to jilt Binay, after President Aquino dashed the Vice President’s hope of endorsement of his presidential candidacy on Thursday and Sen. Grace Poe, today’s most-wooed political star, trashed the UNA leader’s vice presidential overtures two weeks ago.

READ: Erap Estrada rejects offer to become Binay running mate

Jinggoy supports Binay

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the former President’s son, the only opposition politician in the Estrada family with a sizable following, has been touted as a possible running mate for Binay.

Also an UNA member, Senator Estrada supports Binay’s presidential candidacy and though detained for his alleged role in the P10-billion pork barrel scam is not barred from running, as he has not yet been convicted.

‘You can count on me’

Introducing Poe during Independence Day rites in San Juan City on Friday, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, an UNA member, said the junior senator could count on his support in next year’s elections.

Ejercito, another son of the former President, said he and his mother, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, would support Poe because of the “principle and conviction” that she had shown in her work in the Senate.

READ: Grace Poe, JV Ejercito lead Independence Day celebration in San Juan / Binay ally defends Poe over citizenship, foundling issues

“You can count on me,” Ejercito told Poe, who was dressed in a white maria clara, as if in answer to her detractors from the opposition who are questioning her Philippine citizenship and residency.

‘Secret’

“[But] let’s keep it a secret,” Ejercito said, with hundreds of city employees, officials and residents listening. “After all, we understand each other.”

For this year’s Independence Day rites, Ejercito said the city broke tradition by inviting a junior senator as guest of honor. In 2013 and 2014, the city had for its guest speaker Sen. Gringo Honasan and Senate President Franklin Drilon, respectively.

“You might graduate early from the Senate, that’s why we invited you this year,” Ejercito, who served three terms as mayor of San Juan, told Poe.

And while Poe has yet to declare her candidacy, Ejercito asked her not to forget San Juan, where she topped the 2013 senatorial election, surpassing him by 1,250 votes.

“I hope you won’t forget San Juan if you’d be fortunate enough [in your race] to Malacañang,” he told Poe, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Binay, facing allegations of corruption in the Senate and graft and plunder charges in the Office of the Ombudsman, had floated the idea of taking Estrada aboard as his vice presidential running mate, billing it the “BE(Binay-Estrada)st team.”

‘I’ve been there’

Reporters asked Estrada about it on Friday and he said, with Binay standing beside him, “I’ve been there. I am already done with that.”

When the reporters turned to him, Binay, showing respect for Estrada, said: “You all heard what the President (Estrada) said. We should respect whatever he [says].”

JV, mom for Poe

Poe, an independent who topped the 2013 senatorial election, is running second to Binay in the polls, ahead of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the ruling Liberal Party’s presumptive presidential candidate.

Her followers and admirers are prodding Poe to run for President, but she says she has not decided whether to seek higher office.

President Aquino has been calling Poe to meetings in Malacañang, but it is unclear whether he is persuading her to run as his chosen presidential candidate or as Roxas’ vice presidential running mate.

Poe has said that she prefers to remain independent and that if she will run, she will be more comfortable running with Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, also an independent and with a long-term plan, beginning with the vice presidency.

READ: Poe ‘comfortable’ with Escudero as her VP

Not official declaration

Later, Ejercito told reporters that what he said was not yet an official declaration of his support for Poe’s candidacy.

“I said what I said of Sen. Grace Poe because of our work together in the Senate. We crossed party lines by fighting and standing up [together] in various issues. Hence, when the time comes when [I] have to decide [who to support] that would be a big factor. I can’t set that aside,” he said.

Ejercito cited the freedom of information bill and the investigation of the clash between police commandos and Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25 as examples of his joint work with Poe.

He said he hoped his family would not come to the point of choosing between Poe and Binay, as the Vice President is a longtime friend of the Estradas.

“We fought the past administration together. That would be difficult to throw away, [as we worked] together in the worst of times. It would be a really tough decision,” he said.