Erap still choosing between Binay, Grace

MANILA, Philippines - Trimming down to two his choice for president, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada disclosed yesterday that he will make his final decision on who to endorse between Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe.

In a press conference, the former president said he is still having a hard time deciding who to endorse for chief executive in the 2016 elections.

“Now, it is trimmed down to two. I will be choosing between my kumpadre Vice President Binay and my inaanak (goddaughter) Sen.Grace a month from now or in the middle of the campaign,” Estrada said.

Estrada said that his foremost consideration is the platform of governance of the candidate.

“The platform of government that is on top of my priority is peace and order. That’s number one. Number two is infrastructure. I will choose the presidential candidate whose platform of governance jibes with mine,” Estrada said.

Estrada and Binay ran for president and vice president, respectively, in 2010 under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), a coalition of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) and Binay’s Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Estrada said yesterday that he is endorsing former senator Panfilo Lacson, retired Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas, former senators Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon for senator.

Estrada said that he is still thinking hard whether to endorse world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who also filed his certificate of candidacy for senator yesterday.

This brings to seven the senatorial candidates that Estrada will endorse.

Estrada earlier expressed support for the senatorial candidacy of Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino.