Erap Estrada backs Grace Poe, Bongbong Marcos

Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday ended months of speculation when he endorsed the presidential candidacy of Senator Grace Poe, Susan Enriquez reported on GMA News' "24 Oras."

Estrada, who was elected president in 1998 but was ousted amid serious allegations of graft in 2001, also endorsed the vice presidential bid of Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator.

Poe is the daughter of the late actor and one-time presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., Estrada's best friend.

The former President formally announced his support for Poe before thousands of his supporters at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

In his speech, Estrada introduced Poe as a "special guest [who is] more special than me."

"Mga kasama at mga kaibigan, ang aking inaanak, ang susunod na pangulo ng Pilipinas, walang iba kundi si Grace Poe!" Estrada said as he called Poe to the stage.

Estrada said that just like her father, the senator was a "great" person close to his heart.

"Ang aking kandidato bilang pangulo ay isang magiting na tao. Tulad ng kanyang ama. Siya ay mahal ko rin at bahagi ng aking buhay. Kapwa kami naging artista ng tatay niya," Estrada said.

"Ang tatay niya kumakandidato habang nakakulong ako sa Tanay. Sa pag-ikot ng tadhana, ang kanyang minamahal na anak ang nais magpatuloy ng kanyang mga ginawa," Estrada added.

The former President said the elder Poe never left him in his battles, from the time he entered politics as mayor of San Juan until he became President in 1998.

"Narito na po ngayong gabi ang isang taong may galing at puso. Isang Pilipino, o Pilipina, anak, asawa, ina. Kaibigan ng lahat. At nakasama ko sa lahat ng aking laban bilang mayor, vice president at president. Hindi niya ako iniwan," he said of the senator.

FPJ's ghost

When it was her turn to speak, Poe asked Estrada in jest if his endorsement was borne out of fear of seeing her father's ghost.

"Gusto lang kita tanungin, Ninong, kaya mo ba ako inendorso ay dahil natatakot kang multuhin ka? Kasi yan ang palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin eh: 'Baka pag hindi kita inendorso ay multuhin ako ng best friend ko,'" the senator said.

Poe said she is grateful for Estrada's endorsement because she knew he had to make a tough choice.

Addressing the mayor, she said: "Alam kong ito ay isang desisyon na pinag-isipan mong mabuti. Alam kong mahal mo ang aking ama, pero alam ko na ang mga desisyon na ganito ay para sa bayan."

Poe was lavish in her praise for the former President, describing him as a leader who represents, identifies and understands ordinary people.

She said she wants to build a government possessing the same traits Estrada has.

"Yan din ang aking nais isulong—isang gobyerno na nakakaramdam sa inyong mga suliranin, na magbibigay ng agarang solusyon para sa inyo," Poe told the crowd.

The senator said she will strive not to let her godfather down by doing everything she can to honor her father's memory and help the Filipino masses.

Binay, Roxas

With Estrada's endorsement of Poe, the former president shunned the candidacies of his running mate in the 2010 elections Vice President Jejomar Binay, and his trade secretary Mar Roxas.

The former interior secretary Roxas is the administration standard bearer while Binay is running under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

Estrada's endorsement is seen to boost Poe's chances in the elections, which is shaping up to be a tight four-way race according to the recent pre-election surveys.—Xianne Arcangel/NB, GMA News