Erap
plays Santa to Negrenses
then claims he was ‘framed up’
By RANIE AZUE
CADIZ City – True to his political slogan
“Erap Para sa Mahirap,” former President Joseph
Estrada delivered relief goods to thousands of individuals
in northern Negros Occidental who suffered from the devastation
of Typhoon “Frank.”
In the town of Manapla and the cities of Cadiz
and Sagay, Estrada told Negrenses that he hopes that the little
help he gave them would somehow alleviate their difficult
situation.
Before his adoring supporters, the former
President once again insisted that he was innocent of all
the graft charges he was accused of, and chided President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for continuously hiding the truth
on what had transpired during EDSA II.
“I was framed up. They offered me to
simply get out of the country and no cases will be filed against,”
he claimed.
Estrada accompanied by Makati City Mayor Jojemar
Binay, former senator Ernesto Maceda and movie actor Rez Cortez.
He was mobbed by ordinary folks.
The President said he will continue to explain
his positions to the people whenever he has his chance to
be with them.
Meanwhile, Estrada said the United Opposition
has six in its list of probable candidates for the presidency
in 2010. He said the following have good chances of beating
whoever will be the administration candidate:
• Sen. Loren Legarda
• Sen. Manuel Villar
• Sen. Mar Roxas
• Sen. Francis Escudero
• Sen. Panfilo Lacson; and
• Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.
He also criticized President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
for mishandling the food and energy crisis hitting the country.
He called for the temporarily lifting of the expanded value-added
tax on oil.
Estrada said the high price of fuel, aggravated
by the EVAT, has a domino effect that hurts the Filipino people.
“The subsidies given by the present
administration will bleed the country’s finances. These
are band-aid solutions with no long-term effects,” he
stressed.
The former President, meanwhile endorsed Sagay
City Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to be the next governor
of Negros Occidental.
Mayor Marañon is the younger brother
of the late Gov. Joseph Marañon./PN
|
