Estrada, Binay to remain friends despite Poe endorsement – Abby

FORMER president Joseph Estrada’s endorsement of the candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe does not signal the end of the friendship between him and Jejomar Binay.

This was according to Binay’s daughter Makati Rep. Abby Binay, who is running as Makati mayor in the coming elections.

In an interview after her proclamation rally in Makati on Monday, Abby said she respected the decision of Estrada to support the opponent of her father.

She said this does not mean the Binays would cut off their friendship with Estrada, who chose Binay as his runningmate in the 2010 presidential elections.

Binay and Estrada were also the founding fathers of the United Nationalist Alliance before Binay officially launched it as his political party for his 2016 presidential bid.

“Di ba naman sa pulitika kalaban mo ngayon, kaibigan mo bukas. Kaibigan mo ngayon, kalaban mo bukas. Ganun lang talaga so hopefully naman after ng election, di ba isang araw lang ang election, pagkatapos nun lahat magkakaibigan na ulit, magkakapamilya at magkakakilala na ulit,” Abby said.

“So sa tingin naman namin, sa laki at tagal ng pinagsamahan namin ng pamilya ng mga Estrada, hindi ito magiging rason para hindi kami maging magkaibigan ulit,” she added.

Estrada officially announced his endorsement of Poe during his proclamation rally for Manila mayor on Monday, ending speculations whether he would opt to support the candidacy of the adopted daughter of his bosom buddy, the late action star Fernando Poe Jr., or that of his political ally Binay.

Reporters tried to interview the Vice President but he opted not to give his reaction on Estrada’s endorsement.