Estrada cannot regain presidency - official

Deposed president Joseph Estrada cannot go back to his old job and cannot regain his title because he has lost the support of his business associates and his followers, a senior official said yesterday.

"This talk is coming only from politicians. He is just encouraging his remaining supporters. Of course, he will not say, 'I have lost the battle'. Of course, the former president will not say he has given up now. Of course, he will add, he will return. The government should understand that what Estrada is saying is just a politician talking, who is encouraging his remaining supporters. We cannot stop him from dreaming," stated Presidential spokesman, Renato Corona.

"We have to encourage freedom of expression; he has the right to talk that way," added Corona. Corona was reacting to Estrada's boasting in Zamboanga, Mindanao, during the first leg of his campaign for senatorial candidates on Tuesday which was shortened Wednesday evening. His original plan was to conduct a one-week campaign sortie.

In that campaign, Estrada said: "Those who worked for my ouster will suffer the consequences the moment I am back in power." He also added that "blood will flow if I am imprisoned. "I promise you I will return to Malacanang (presidential palace) because I am only on leave," Estrada said. "That is just a politician speaking to encourage his dwindling supporters. Like we have said, it is not a crime to dream," said Corona, in response to Estrada's boasting that he would return to the presidential palace. Although Estrada cut down his provincial sortie in a campaign for the opposition's senatorial candidate, he has not stopped defending himself and attacking his successor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The verbal duel between Estrada and the government has heightened because the campaign for the bicameral Congress and the local government has been a fight between Estrada and Arroyo. This is the reason, too, why Estrada has started campaigning for his candidates. "The plan is to test his popularity," said an insider, adding that the camp was disappointed because the first leg of the campaign was "not as warm as expected, with Estrada around". The ruling party is expected to change its policy not to attack Estrada in the campaign sortie because of fear that it might turn off voters