Peace and order is Erap's centerpiece program

By Jose Rodel Clapano (The Philippine Star)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=549537&publicationSubCategoryId=63  

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada said peace and order will be a centerpiece of his governance if he is elected president once more.

The standard-bearer of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino-United Opposition (PMP-UNO) made the pronouncement yesterday in reaction to the outbreak of violence in Cebu, Davao, and Cavite in the past 30 days.

He was reacting to the shooting of teacher Romeo Aguirre Duran in his classroom in Argao, Cebu, an alleged slay try on Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu at the Gaisano Mall in Davao City, and the gunslaying of 14 people in Cavite.

“(These incidents) underscore the extremely bad state of peace and order our country suffers from today,” Estrada said.

“This is why the restoration of peace and order is the keystone of my platform. The country cannot develop and progress unless peace reigns everywhere. Foreign investors and tourists will always hesitate to visit the Philippines due to this unhappy state of affairs,” he added.

Estrada said the 50-year Muslim rebellion and the 40-year communist insurgency must end before any programs for the poor, especially those in the rural and far-flung areas, can be implemented.

“The root causes of these insurgencies, namely injustice, grinding poverty, landlessness and a lack of jobs or to provide adequate income from farming, must be fully attended to. That I intend to do from day one of my return to Malacanang,” Estrada said.

Erap’s Valentine

Estrada is having dinner tonight with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name congregation, which claims to have six million members.

Estrada will visit the religious leader’s sprawling compound on Diversion Road near the Davao International Airport before he joins the rest of the PMP-UNO candidates for a proclamation rally at the Rizal Park in Davao tonight.

Estrada is the second presidential candidate to seek Quiboloy’s endorsement after Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro visited him at the prayer mountain, the spiritual retreat of Quiboloy’s congregation, on Thursday.

President Arroyo, a candidate for a congressional seat in Pampanga, also made Quiboloy – a town mate – one of her spiritual advisers. – With Edith Regalado