Erap supporters in metro start to gather for welcome rally

Supporters of pardoned former President Joseph Estrada prepared to mobilize to San Juan City Friday, no longer in protest but in celebration. Radio dzBB reported that Estrada's supporters in Manila and northern Metro Manila planned to go to San Juan City to join the welcome for the former President on Friday afternoon. In northern Metro Manila, supporters in Malabon and Navotas cities spent Thursday night celebrating the pardon Estrada got from President Arroyo Thursday afternoon. Since Estrada was arrested for plunder on April 25, 2001, Estrada's supporters had been gathering in protest against what they called his illegal arrest and detention. For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has secured the route Estrada would take from his rest house in Tanay, Rizal to San Juan City. "Di problema yan. Ating bibigyan ng focus, maayos para di magkaroon ng untoward incident (We have no problem with that. Our focus is to secure the former President to make sure there is no untoward incident)," PNP chief Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon Jr. said in a radio interview. In San Juan City, residents continued to prepare their welcome program for Estrada, with a stage set near the San Juan City Hall plaza. The plaza is a stone's throw away from the San Juan Medical Center, where Estrada is expected to visit his ailing mother Mary upon arrival at San Juan. In Rizal province, dzBB radio reported that the PNP Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) secured Estrada at his rest house possibly for the last time. Security by the PSPO remained tight as they waited for interior secretary Ronaldo Puno to bring the pardon documents to Estrada's rest house at 9 a.m. Friday. Rizal provincial police also prepared to guard areas where the former president's convoy would pass, should Estrada's supporters line the route to San Juan. - GMANews.TV