Estrada set to endorse Poe

FORMER President  and now Manila Mayor Joseph  Estrada   is expected to endorse  Senator  Grace Poe’s presidential bid  during his proclamation rally  on Monday, sources said on Sunday night.

Estrada’s  proclamation rally  will be held in the afternoon at Liwasang Bonifacio open ground in Manila

Several sources confirmed through  text messages and  phone calls that   Estrada  would  name  Poe as his presidential bet  in May.

The first source, who disclosed  about Estrada’s  choice, declined  to say if  Poe would  attend the proclamation rally.  The senator has  no scheduled activity for Monday.

Another source  gave a categorical “yes” answer in a text message  when asked if  Estrada would indeed endorse Poe during the rally. The  source  gave no  other details.

Estrada’s   endorsement  of Poe  was allegedly  confirmed by some local  officials  of Manila who attended  the general assembly of the Kaagapay ng Manileño Foundation  held at  the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Sunday afternoon, the third source said.

“Mga  tao ni Erap (Estrada’s  nickname) yung nandun, mga konsehal  mismo. Sabi nila yun daw ang sinasabi ni Erap sa kanila,”   said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The  source said  Estrada’s endorsement  would definitely give a  boost to Poe’s  presidential bid.

This early, the source  dispelled speculations that the mayor  would endorse Poe  in exchange  of any favor for  his son, Senator Jose “jinggoy” Estrada, who has been charged  with plunder and detained at Camp Crame  in Quezon City  over the  “pork barrel” scam.

“Wala sa personality ni Grace na  mangako, magbigay ng condition and you will not dare (ask for  a quid pro quo) kung   ikaw ang nakikipag-usap sa kanya. It’s just  out of  her character to compromise,” he said.

“Walang pinag-uusapang mga position, walang pinag-uusapang mangyayari in exchange for whatever…”  the source added.

Poe’s camp was mum when sought for comment on  Estrada’s supposed scheduled  endorsement   on her presidential bid.