PMP to hold caucuses aimed at convincing Erap to run in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) will start Thursday a series of caucuses aimed at convincing former President Joseph Estrada to run in the 2010 presidential race. Dubbed as “Philippines Towards 2010: Party Team Building," Thursday’s gathering will bring together PMP officials from the National Capital Region (NCR) who are expected to deliver their inspirational messages and insights. In a statement, PMP-NCR coordinator Menny Reyes said the event would also be an advance birthday celebration for Estrada, founding chairman of the PMP, who is set to turn 71 on April 19. “We want to unveil our team-building and revitalization plans in the presence of our founding chairman who envisioned the party’s growth as a major force in the country’s political firmament," Reyes said. Thursday's caucus will be held at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City. The group is expected to unveil in the caucus its “PJEE (President Joseph Ejercito Estrada) 2010" signature campaign to convince Estrada to reconsider his decision not to seek the presidency in 2010. “We believe only President Estrada can truly make positive changes in the country after so many years of crises, anomalies and scandals," Reyes said. Reyes described the pardoned former president as “the epitome of a true savior of the poor Filipinos." “His (Estrada) pro-poor programs for the Filipino masses will truly succeed on a national scale when we succeed in convincing him to make a run for the presidency in 2010," he said. Among those PMP leaders who are expected to attend the caucus include Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, Estrada’s son San Juan mayor Joseph Victor “JV" Ejercito, Navotas mayor Toby Tiangco, and Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. PMP associate secretary general and general counsel Lawyer Rolly Ramirez; Director for Political Affairs Pabling Casimina and Executive Committee member Wainwright Rivera, organized the caucus. Meanwhile, a mass will also be hosted by the PMP at 9 a.m. before the caucus for Estrada’s birthday. On April 18, a mass for Estrada dubbed as “Misang Handog ng Mahihirap sa Kaarawan in Pangulong Erap (Mass for the Poor in the Celebration of President Erap's Birthday)," will also be held for Estrada at Sto. Nino Church in Tondo, Manila organized by his poor supporters in Tondo. This will be followed by a medical mission to be led by Estrada’s wife, Dr. Luisa “Loi" Ejercito and a distribution of rice to 3,000 poor residents of Tondo where Estrada will be joined by his friends and classmates in Ateneo’s batch 1955. Estrada is also expected to visit the orphans at the Damas Filipinas in Paco, Manila at 10:30 am of the same day. - GMANews.TV