Philstar.com
August 26,2009
MANILA, Philippines -- Among the present lot of presidential candidates, deposed President Joseph Estrada is still the man to beat in the upcoming 2010 national elections, according to an opposition stalwart.
Former senator Ernesto Maceda said Estrada still has the charisma to win over any of the presidential aspirants today.
"He is strong as before because the sympathy is there. The support (of the people) for Erap is love- and sympathy-based," Maceda said in a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City today (Aug. 26).
He also claimed that Sen. Manny Villar, one of the presidential wannabes, is allegedly being supported by politicians only because of financial reasons.
"The people supporting Manny are expecting money from him," Maceda said of Villar, who has topped the latest survey on presidentiables.
Compared with Estrada's charms when speaking before an audience, Villar is a "poor (public) speaker," Maceda added.
"He (Estrada) has the crowd at the palm of his hand," said Maceda, also a former ambassador.
Meanwhile, Maceda said if Estrada pushes through with his presidential bid, the opposition is inclined to get among Senators Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda or Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his vice presidential candidate.
"Noynoy (Aquino III) is no still in radar's scope... He needs a little more seasoning. Sana huwag muna ngayon," Maceda said of the son of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
Maceda said the former chief executive is convincing opposition candidates to come up with a standard bearer in the 2010 polls. - By Dennis Carcamo
August 26,2009
MANILA, Philippines -- Among the present lot of presidential candidates, deposed President Joseph Estrada is still the man to beat in the upcoming 2010 national elections, according to an opposition stalwart.
Former senator Ernesto Maceda said Estrada still has the charisma to win over any of the presidential aspirants today.
"He is strong as before because the sympathy is there. The support (of the people) for Erap is love- and sympathy-based," Maceda said in a media forum in Greenhills, San Juan City today (Aug. 26).
He also claimed that Sen. Manny Villar, one of the presidential wannabes, is allegedly being supported by politicians only because of financial reasons.
"The people supporting Manny are expecting money from him," Maceda said of Villar, who has topped the latest survey on presidentiables.
Compared with Estrada's charms when speaking before an audience, Villar is a "poor (public) speaker," Maceda added.
"He (Estrada) has the crowd at the palm of his hand," said Maceda, also a former ambassador.
Meanwhile, Maceda said if Estrada pushes through with his presidential bid, the opposition is inclined to get among Senators Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda or Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as his vice presidential candidate.
"Noynoy (Aquino III) is no still in radar's scope... He needs a little more seasoning. Sana huwag muna ngayon," Maceda said of the son of the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
Maceda said the former chief executive is convincing opposition candidates to come up with a standard bearer in the 2010 polls. - By Dennis Carcamo