Senator Jinggoy Estrada yesterday said he is deeply saddened by the news of President Cory’s health condition.

“I encourage the whole nation to pray for her speedy recovery,” he said.

“She is our remaining symbol in the search for truth…she was the one who restored democracy to our country,” said Estrada, who paid a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco at the provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.

The children of former President Corazon Aquino, Senator Benigo “Noynoy” Aquino III and television host Kris Aquino, Monday announced that their mother is suffering from colon cancer and is undergoing treatment.

Aquino has been very vocal against corruption in government and has recently been joining street protests calling for the ouster of President Gloria Arroyo.

Aquino had also called for the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada, the father of the senator, in 2001 amid charges of plunder that led to Arroyo’s assuming the presidency.

Arroyo yesterday said she was saddened by news that Aquino had been diagnosed with cancer.

“I am saddened, along with the Filipino people, of (former) president Aquino's illness,” Arroyo said in a statement. “She led the country in peaceful change of government.”

“I am praying for her recovery and strength for her family,” Arroyo said.

PEOPLE DON’T FEEL

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Meanwhile, Estrada yesterday said that while Malacañang says the economy is improving, the people do not feel it.

One can only say that the economy has improved if it has improved the lives of people, and the prices of oil and basic commodities are not continuing to rise, said Estrada, who was also in Bacolod to speak at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College graduation rites in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod.

Estrada gave P1 million to the school.

Asked if he would move for wage increases in the light of the economic difficulties being faced by the people, Estrada said that is best left to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to decide.

Estrada, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, said a P125 legislated wage increase proposed to be implemented in phases over a three-year period would not be economically viable for the survival of businesses and would cause more people to lose jobs.

ON POLITICS

Estrada said the Partido ng Masang Pilipino is consolidating all the forces of the opposition to field one presidential candidate in 2010.

We don’t want what happened in 2004, when we lost because the opposition had too many candidates, to be repeated, he said.

The opposition has a wide field of presidential candidates to chose from, he said, naming senators Manuel Villar, Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Panfilo Lacson.

CONDOLENCE

Meanwhile, Estrada expressed his condolence to the family of Gov. Joseph Marañon who, he said, was a very good governor.

Marañon was a straightforward, soft spoken and kind, it is waste that we lost one of the best governors, he said.

He said he hopes Zayco continues the good work of Marañon.

If there is anything I can do to help his administration I will be more than willing to do so, Estrada said.*CPG

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