Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada turnover a key to the city of Manila to President of the French Republic Francois Hollande during the wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday said he wants to hear the platforms first of Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay before throwing his support to either of them in 2016.
In a weekly news form in Manila, Estrada said platforms weigh more to him that his close ties with Poe and Binay.
“At the end of the day, titignan ko kung sino ang higit na makatutulong sa higit na nakararami, for the greatest good of the greatest number—the masses,” said Estrada, whose pro-poor stance catapulted him to the presidency in 1998.
He also reiterated that he is torn between Poe and Binay as both are close to him.
“Si Vice President Binay kumpareng buo ko. Si Senator Grace, inaanak ko sa kasal, anak ba ng kaibigang matalik ko,” he said, referring to Poe’s father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.
“Mahihirapan ako but I have to decide,” Estrada said.
“Kung sino ang nakikita kong maganda ang plataporma, ‘yun ang susuportahan ko sa huli. I owe it to the people of the Philippines. Hindi dahil sa kumpare o inaanak ko [ay] susuportahan na agad. Kung sino ang makapagbibigay ng makabubuti sa bayan, doon ako pupunta,” he added.
The former President said he will support the candidate whose platform is similar to his. “Kung katulad ko ang programa nila ‘yun ang susuportahan ko,” he said.
Binay has openly declared his intention to run for president while Poe, who has recently overtook Binay in presidential surveys, has yet to make a decision.
Meanwhile, Estrada also said his clan — which included two incumbent senators and one former senator — may support only one candidate in next year’s elections.
“Hindi naman ako magiging lider kung ang pamilya ko hindi ko kaya,” he said.
To the question on whether his family will support only one candidate, he said: “Hopefully.”
“Hindi ko na iniintindi ‘yung partido, kundi ‘yung kandidato kasi yung partido, pagkatapos ng eleksyon, parte-parte na ‘yan,” Estrada added.
Estrada also dismissed the presence of his son, Senator JV Ejercito, during the recent launch Binay’s party, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
“Nandun din naman si Sen. Grace Poe sa Independence Day celebration sa San Juan at sa UNA launch. Anong ibig sabihin nun? Nakikisama lang siguro dahil wala pang definite na susuportahan ang pamilya,” he said.
Asked if he will be initiating a meeting with Poe and Binay just like what President Benigno Aquino III did, Estrada said he is willing to meet the two but he will not initiate it.
“Why not? I’m willing to meet with everybody, lalo pa si Sen. Grace [na] inaanak ko. I will be willing to see her kung kailangan ako. Mahirap ‘yung nagpiprisinta baka masabihan tayo. I don’t give unsolicited advice but everybody is welcome to see me,” he said. (MNS)