DO not take Sen. Jinggoy Estrada out of the running just yet. As law would have it, he is innocent until proven guilty.
Not only is he qualified to run for a higher position in the upcoming 2016 Philippine national elections, but according to a recent Pulse Asia Survey, Estrada is the 7th choice to be country’s next vice president in 2016.
The survey, which polled 1,200 respondents nationwide, showed that four percent consider Estrada as a fit vice president—overlooking his alleged involvement in the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.
Sen. Grace Poe emerged as the preferred choice for vice president, obtaining 24 percent, followed by Escudero with 20 percent. Dept. of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Roxas came in 3rd with 8 percent, followed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with 7 percent, and Cayetano with 6 percent. The 6th spot was a tie among Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Kris Aquino, Rehabilitation Sec. Lacson, and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos Recto, who each got 5 percent.
Meanwhile, the embattled Estrada believes that the plunder and 15 counts of graft charges against him are “weak.” He is confident that there is no direct evidence that will pin him down. He is optimistic that the cases filed against him will be dismissed for lack of merit and that an acquittal is in the offing.
On Tuesday, August 12, Estrada said his options are still open. Despite being detained for more than a month now, Estrada is not about to let go of his political ambition.
“I will run in 2016 for a higher office and am confident I will not campaign inside the jail,” Estrada told reporters who attended his bail hearing.
Former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada agreed. He also believes his son will be a free man in time for the 2016 elections. The Estrada patriarch assured that the family will be behind Jinggoy if ever he decides to run for higher office.
The late Michael Oakeshott, an American philosopher, once said: “To some people, government appears as a vast reservoir of power which inspires them to dream of what use might be made of it. They have favorite projects of various dimensions which they sincerely believe are for the benefit of mankind. They are thus disposed to recognize government—an instrument of passion, the art of politics to inflame and direct desire.”
People who have insatiable lust for power go into politics.
Guilty or not, Estrada should know that the realization of his (political) dreams will depend on the Filipino voters. If he is really gunning for the second most powerful position in the country, regaining the Filipinos’ trust should be his top priority.
To most Philippine politics pundits, trustworthyness is something rarely associated with politicians. Because of the many controversies hounding the government, it is difficult to square politics with trust. Hence making the term “trusted official”—concocted through surveys—almost an oxymoron.
Filipinos tend to hold politics and politicians in low regard. Instead of contemplating on his political aspirations, perhaps Sen. Estrada should follow an advice from his colleague in the Senate.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said that Sen. Estrada and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla should make this experience meaningful. Once detained for plotting a coup d’etat against Former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Trillanes won a seat in 2007. He was granted amnesty by Pres. Benigno Aquino III in 2010.
“They just have to use this experience to come out as better persons in the end. They can try to reflect about life in general, what their future holds as public servants. This is a very, very good time for them to change as persons,” Trillanes said.
(AJPress)