Erap For 2010 Elections

With two choppers, a King Air turboprop aircraft and at least 20 vans, there is no doubt former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada is running in next year's elections.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a close ally of Estrada, on Sunday made this statement as he noted that other prospective presidential bets now placing advertisements in radio and TV would have trouble matching up with Estrada.

“[Meron siyang] dalawang chopper, isang fixed-wing 350 na King Air, 20 vans for political campaign.. Kung di pa proof yan na tatakbo, ewan ko na lang kung anong kailangang ebidensya na tatakbo. Tatakbo 'yan," he told Nimfa Ravelo in an interview on dzBB radio.

[He has two choppers, one 350 fixed-wing King Air aircraft, and 20 vans for political campaign. If that is not proof that he will run, I don’t know what other evidence you will need for him to run. He will run.]

Enrile, chairman emeritus of Estrada's Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party, described the two choppers as French-made Aerospatiales.

The Aircraft Charter World Web site described the Beech King Air 350 as having a passenger capacity of up to 11, and up to 550 pounds luggage. It said the aircraft is capable of landing at 95 percent of all U.S. airports, and most others worldwide.

The Web site controller.com listed the prices of a 2009 King Air at $6.6 million; and a 2008 King Air at $5.775 million.

Estrada won the presidency in 1998 but was deposed in 2001 following a corruption scandal. He was convicted of plunder in 2007 but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Estrada, a former actor, has offered to run for president in 2010 if the opposition did not unite and field a single candidate to challenge the administration standard bearer. Enrile ran in the 2004 elections under Estrada’s Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) before quitting his posts as president of PMP and declaring himself an “independent" in the Senate.


Tanong:
1. Can he really run as President of the Philippine Republic..?