ILOILO CITY – Former President Estrada is not closing the door on the possibility of running for his former post in the 2010 elections.

Asked by reporters yesterday if he has plans for the next elections, Estrada said: “No plans...as of now,” before breaking into laughter.

Estrada, who spoke at the graduation ceremonies of the University of Iloilo, said his focus is to help unite the opposition and come up with one presidential candidate in the 2010 elections.

“I'm trying my best to unite the opposition to have only one candidate so that cheating will be prevented,” Estrada said upon arrival at the Iloilo airport.

He said that if the opposition will have more than one candidate, it would be easier to be cheated as had happened to his close friend, the late action star, Fernando Poe Jr.

He named the possible presidential candidates of the opposition as Senate President Manuel Villar and Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson and Loren Legarda.

Asked who among the five he is favoring, Estrada said he will support the one who will top the surveys.

Dispelling notions that he is preparing for the 2010 elections, Estrada said he is going to provinces and towns to thank his supporters.

“I want to reciprocate what the poor people have done for me. The poor people are the ones who had patronized my movies, not the rich and the educated,” the former action star said.

“I want to be remembered as a man who championed the cause of the masses,” he said.

On his first visit to Iloilo after he was granted executive clemency and released from detention, Estrada thanked his supporters who voted for his wife Sen. Luisa “Loi” Ejercito and son Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.

Estrada was welcomed by his supporters upon his arrival at the Iloilo airport around 10:30 a.m.

He was escorted by a 15-vehicle convoy, including police escorts, from the Iloilo airport to the Breakthrough Restaurant  in Arevalo District in this city where he had lunch with his hosts, former Iloilo Rep. Albertito Lopez and his wife former Guimaras Gov. Emily Lopez. The couple had invited the former president to speak at the graduation ceremonies of the Lopez-owned UI.

About 100 supporters assembled in four areas along Estrada's route. Some were carrying placards and streamers emblazoned with “Welcome Erap: Idolo ng Mahihirap” and “Welcome His Excellency Joseph Estrada.”

Giggling and shrieking supporters shook his hand and posed for pictures as the former movie star waved and smiled at the crowd and even stopped and got out from his vehicle to greet them.*NPB

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