Author Topic: Erap: I am not running!  (Read 700 times)

Brownman

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Erap: I am not running!
« on: December 30, 2007, 06:15:56 PM »
Estrada: I repeat, I am not running!


Former president Joseph Estrada on Sunday reiterated he will not pursue any political ambition, noting he will not run in the 2010 presidential race.

In his speech during the gift-giving activities in depressed areas in Manila, Estrada emphasized that he would no longer seek another shot at the presidency come 2010.

"I am not running. Somebody else is running," the ex-President told a crowd of almost 500 in Baseco and Parola Compound, Smokey Mountain and Vitas in Manila Sunday morning.

He also clarified that the gift-giving activities he and his allies have been conducting for the past days is not campaigning.

Estrada, along with his wife Loi, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Sen. Ernesto Maceda and defeated Batangas Governor Ricky Recto, started giving away food packages, containing rice, cans of sardines and other food items, to the residents around 9:45 a.m.

Ronaldo Lumbao, president of People's Movement Against Poverty (PMAP), was also seen with the Estrada group during the gift-giving activity.

PMAP is a people's organization which has been an ally of Estrada.

Last Saturday, Estrada also distributed gifts to residents living in some areas in Quezon City and Manila.

Estrada went to Payatas area in Quezon City at 9 a.m. and started giving Christmas gifts to residents.

He then proceeded to Barangay Pag-asa and North Triangle and distributed gifts to residents who warmly welcomed him.

Reports said the pardoned president’s last stop was at an orphanage in Paco, Manila where he gave gifts to orphaned children.

The Sandiganbayan convicted Estrada for plunder charges last September 12 and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, his sentence was short-lived after President Arroyo granted him executive clemency on October 24.

He has since embarked on a "Lakbay Pasasalamat" to thank his supporters and he said to tell the "truth on his plunder conviction" by the anti-graft court.

Observers have said that he was preparing for a presidential run in 2010.

In his speech before resettlers in Tanay town in Rizal Friday, the former president asserted that he could still run for the presidency in 2010 because what he got was an absolute pardon and there was nothing in his release that stated it was a conditional pardon.

However, Estrada said that as of now, he has no plans of running and that his goal is to unite the opposition and field just one candidate for the next presidential elections.

Estrada's interpretation was contested by Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio who said part of the conditions for the grant of executive clemency was that he would not run again for public office.


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