Erap to carry opposition if Binay taps out 2016 race

Joseph ‘Erap’ Ejercito Estrada is still the Mayor of Manila after the Supreme Court ruling. (Photo courtesy of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada Facebook page)

MANILA — In an impromptu interview with former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada, Erap told members of the media that if Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay taps out of the 2016 race, “that is the only time that [he] will be forced to run for president.”

“That’s a big possibility,” Erap was quoted in a report by the Philippine Star.

“Walang democracy kung walang opposition (There would be no democracy without the opposition). We cannot allow the opposition to have no candidate,” he added.

According to Estrada, who was not able to finish his term when he was ousted from office in 2001 after an aborted impeachment trial, he is actually conflicted between supporting Binay or Sen. Grace Poe in 2016.

“One is my kumpadre and the other is my goddaughter. I will see who can help the greater majority,” Estrada said in an interview at the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

Poe is the daughter of Estrada’s close friend, the late Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada even became the younger Poe’s godfather.

Meanwhile, Binay has been a long time friend and ally of Estrada. In Estrada’s 2009 second attempt at presidency, Binay was his running mate. There are even reports of Binay planning to take Estrada’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, as his VP in 2016.

Despite his absence at the UNA launch on Wednesday, Estrada said he and Binay are in good terms.

“I have already given UNA to him (Binay), so there is no problem with us in the PMP because we also have a party of our own,” Estrada said, referring to his current political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).