Erap not conceding yet, but says ‘willing to work’ with new gov’t By Jason Faustino 06/05/2010

Erap not conceding yet, but says ‘willing to work’ with new gov’t

By Jason Faustino 06/05/2010 Although he has yet to formally concede the contest, deposed President Joseph Estrada has said he is willing to work with the presumptive incoming administration of presidential race front runner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, should the latter ask him to. Interviewed by giant broadcast network ABS-CBN upon his arrival in London to attend the graduation of his 20-year-old daughter Jerika, Estrada called on Filipinos to “forget politics” and rally behind Aquino, who is apparently set to be proclaimed next week by Congress, which is sitting as the National Board of Canvassers of the votes for the May 10 elections. With only five certificates of canvass (CoC) left to be canvassed by the joint congressional committee starting Monday, Aquino is seen to be already assured of having won the presidency as the latest tally of the votes show that his closest rival, Estrada, has no more chance of catching up with him as he leads the former President by almost 5 million votes. The five CoC include those from Davao and Bacolod cities and Mountain Province, which is estimated to contain some 860,000 votes. Another CoC pending canvassing is the result of the recent special elections in Lanao del Sur province. The total number of all these votes, however, are inconsequential to the present tally as it would no longer affect the final outcome of the canvassing. In other words, it is already statistically impossible for Estrada to gain on, much less overtake Aquino in the vote count. The former President who was ousted in a military-backed popular revolt in 2001, said he was ready to help the foreseen incoming Aquino administration if it so asks for his hand. “If my services would be needed, specially on the matter of alleviating poverty in the country, I am more than willing to help (the Aquino government) in whatever capacity,” Estrada said in half Filipino. But while saying this he stressed that it does not mean that he was already conceding the presidential race. “Like I have said before, once the canvassing and proclamation are done, I have no problem with that (conceding). But why would I concede when they are not over yet?” he maintained. Estrada was buoyed by his having obtained nearly 10 million votes, and interpreted the huge number of votes he got as a manifestation of the Filipinos belief that he did not commit the crime he was charged with and that he should not have been jailed for it.... MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100605nat2.html

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