Erap likely to back Grace

It seems like former presidentturned-Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has already chosen a candidate to support in next year’s presidential race; and that is Senator Grace Poe.

Although Estrada has not dropped the possibility of still joining the race if there will be no opposition candidate in 2016, his pronouncements on radio of likely supporting the candidacy of Poe has been released as an official statement to media yesterday.

“Malamang na malamang,” was how Estrada replied to the radio anchor’s question on whether he would be supporting Poe in the 2016 polls.

In past interviews, Estrada has repeatedly said he is torn between his friend Jejomar Binay and Poe.

Aside from the daughter of his close friend, FPJ, Estrada also stood as one of Poe’s wedding sponsors.

Poe is currently embattled with citizenship issues while Binay is dealing with corruption allegations.

“Alam mo naman e yung ama ni Grace Poe ay buong higit pa na kapatid ko e. (You know very well, because the father of Grace Poe was more than a brother to me). Sa aking pananaw, kung ‘di siya kandidatong presidente, hindi naman malalabas yan... o hindi ganyan-ganyan uusisain lahat ng mga bagay na ganyan. Sabagay, mukhang mahihirapan sila duon, hindi naman tinitignan yung mga ganyan... pero ngayong kandidato nang presidente, hinahanapan na ng butas” (The way I see it, if she’s not a candidate for president, these complaints will not be put to the fore, or these will not be scrutinized as such. Because she is now a candidate for president, they are trying to find ways to discredit her,” Estrada added.

Likewise, Estrada emphasized that Poe is a Filipino citizen because she was born in the country despite being a foundling.