Erap’s PMP to back presidential, VP bets of HNP — Jinggoy Estrada

The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party — founded by former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada — will support the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of Hugpong ng Pagbabago in Eleksyon 2022.

This was disclosed by Erap's son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in an ANC interview on Wednesday as he disclosed that the PMP has renewed their alliance with HNP, a regional political party led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

“We agreed to renew our alliance with HNP this coming elections,” he said.

“In fact, our party, the PMP, has no candidate for president and vice president and according to the agreement, it is the HNP that will choose for our president and vice president,” he added.

During the 2019 midterm elections, Sara’s HNP carried Estrada as one of its 13 senatorial bets. However, Jinggoy lost and landed only on the 15th spot with over 11 million votes.

Should Sara decide not to run in the upcoming polls, Estrada said they will still depend on the decision of the HNP officers, but he said he is confident that the regional party will field its presidential and vice presidential bets.

“It depends on the officers of HNP kung sino talaga ang kukunin nilang (to chose who will be their) standard bearer. That is what stipulated in our agreement,” he said.

“Ako, I am confident that HNP will name or will put up a standard bearer for presidency and vice presidency,” he added.

Pressed to answer whether Sara will run in 2022, Estrada said: “Based on what I see, I am confident.”

“If ever she will run, we will be supporting her 100 percent,” he added.

Moreover, Estrada disclosed that he had a lunch meeting with the Davao City mayor last week in Bonifacio Global City.

They were joined by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado, and some of Revilla’s children.

Estrada said they did not talk about politics during the lunch and it was just a “renewal of friendship.”

Sara is one of the names being floated as a possible presidential bet in the upcoming polls.

In a previous interview, Sara said it is too early yet to decide whether she will run for president or not.

She has been leading pre-election polls on possible presidential bets done by Pulse Asia despite her father’s constant statements, discouraging her to run for the country’s top post. 

Recently, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President wants to endorse his daughter Sara to run for president in 2022.

“Sinabi niya, gusto niyang tumakbo si Mayor Sara pero ayaw ni Mayor Sara (He said he wants Sara to run but she does not want to),” Roque said.

This, however, was denied by Sara, saying her father must be telling Roque something else. — RSJ, GMA News