Trillanes: Erap could replace Binay in presidential derby

Former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay (background) and Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV revived on Tuesday the possibility that Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada will run for president in 2016 in lieu of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Trillanes reiterated his earlier prediction that Binay would eventually withdraw from vice presidential race next year because of the charges that would be filed against him in court and his dwindling ratings in various surveys.

READ: Binay will back out from the 2016 presidential race, assures Trillanes

Asked about some information that Estrada would substitute for Binay should the latter retract from the race, the senator said they also received the same information.

“Di ba nga simula’t sapul sinasabi ko at some point aatras itong si Vice President Binay, so ako naniniwala pa rin ako dyan,” Trillanes said in a phone patch interview at the Senate.

(From the start, I’ve been saying that at some point Vice President Binay will withdraw from the race, and I still believe that.)

On Monday, a few hours after Binay filed his certificate of candidacy for president, the Ombudsman said that it has found probable cause to charge the Vice President with graft, malversation and falsification of documents over the alleged anomalies he committed as Makati mayor.

READ: Ombudsman finds probable cause to charge VP Binay with graft

“Ngayon naghahanap s’ya ng opening until December hanggang ma-finalize ‘yung listahan ng official candidate so pwede ‘yan, theoritically ‘yung substitution. At kung desperado talaga sila ay magsasamang pwersa ‘yan, ‘yung mga grupo nila GMA, grupo nina Binay at kung sino-sino pa,” he said.

(Now, he’s just looking for an opening until the list of official candidates is finalized in December so theoritically, the substitution is possible. And if they are desperate, the group of (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), the group of Binay and others will conspire.)

Trillanes, who initiated the Senate probe against the Binays in connection with the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building, refused to say the source of his information, except saying that it came from different camps.

If Estrada would substitute for Binay, then another candidate like Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno could instead run for mayor in Manila, said the senator.

Trillanes said Estrada’s entry in the presidential race would definitely be a game changer.

READ: ‘Erap still has clout in PH politics’

Asked if he thinks Estrada would run against Senator Grace Poe considering his close ties with the latter’s father, the late actor Fernendo Poe Jr., Trillanes quickly answered yes.

“Wala namang pinagsamahang malalim si Senator Grace Poe at saka si Mayor Estrada (Grace Poe and Mayor Estrada aren’t really that close),” he said.

Besides, he said, Estrada would ultimately protect his own interest as well as the interest of his son, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who is detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam. IDL