Former foe now runs with Estrada

Monday, 15 March 2010 09:19 Christian V. Esguerra/Inquirer.net

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MANILA - From one of those who joined calls for the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada in 2001, lawyer JV Bautista of the militant Sanlakas group has turned supporter and now passionately defends the ex-president in their campaign sorties.

Bautista, who is running for senator under Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), devotes much of his speeches to tackling the folly of having ousted Estrada in the “Edsa Dos” revolution nine years ago.

Bautista and Sanlakas were then part of a multi-sector effort to force Estrada out of office amid allegations he had pocketed millions in “jueteng” (illegal numbers game) money.

Sanlakas also wanted then Vice President Macapagal-Arroyo to step down to pave the way for what it called a fresh start in governance. Its huge “Resign All” banners dotted Edsa, particularly the vicinity of the Edsa Shrine where protesters had gathered for days.

Bautista acknowledged the awkwardness of his current situation, but maintained that all was now well between him and Estrada.

“Do I find it awkward? Yes. Maybe a little bit, just a little bit,” he told the INQUIRER on Monday.

In a previous interview, Estrada said he took Bautista under his wing after he showed remorse for his actions in 2001. “He apologized to me and that was it,” he told reporters during a recent campaign rally in Baclaran.

“The very fact that I’m running now with him is an action more powerful than any stated apology,” Bautista said.

“It means that we have recognized that the outcome of Edsa Dos was not really desirable. It did not produce the intention of the people to come up with a clean government.”

Bautista said he joined Estrada’s senatorial ticket in December because the latter was the only major presidential candidate with no “leftist or progressive” in his lineup.

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