ERAP REMAINS A PLUS FACTOR FOR FPJ CANDIDACY -- PIMENTEL
BAYUGAN, AGUSAN DEL SUR -- Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said he believes that the support of former President Joseph Estrada is a big plus factor to the candidacy of Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) standard bearer Fernando Poe, Jr. despite his undergoing court trial on plunder charges.
Pimentel said a sizeable portion of the populace remains loyal or sympathetic to Mr. Estrada and can be persuaded to vote for candidates endorsed by the ousted leader.
“In my opinion, Mr. Estrada has at least 30 to 35 percent of the population being influenced by his stand. So he is a factor to reckon with,” he said.
Pimentel said the good showing of Estrada’s son, former Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, in the senatorial surveys is a clear proof of the former president’s political clout.
“Just watch the people when they hear that Jinggoy is coming in or speaking, you see the rapport that Jinggoy has with the people. This is not because of Jinggoy. That’s because of Erap,” the opposition senator said.
In the February 17-25 survey of the Social Weather Station where Pimentel topped the rating with 41 percent, Jinggoy Estrada was ranked 9th with a score of 28 percent.
Pimentel’s opinion conflicted with the assertion of Prof. Felipe Miranda, pollster and research director of Pulse Asia, that Mr. Estrada is a “major handicap” for Mr. Poe.
The senator from Mindanao said the phenomenal victory of Estrada’s wife, Dr. Loi Ejercito-Estrada, in the 2001 senatorial election, was an incontrovertible proof that the deposed president has a solid following.
If Mr. Estrada no longer wields a powerful political influence, Pimentel said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would not have acted to give him lenient treatment while under detention obviously intended to woo his followers, especially the poor.
Pimentel also noticed that candidates for national or local positions have no qualms asking for Mr. Estrada’s endorsement and even asking him to raise their hand for a campaign photo.
Date: March 12, 2004
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