By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
IT took former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada just five minutes to cast in his votes in his hometown in San Juan City.
“Hindi naman ako nahirapan. Okay naman (It wasn’t difficult. It was okay),” Estrada said after feeding his ballot to the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine.
Surrounded by a throng of his supporters that included former Sen. Ernesto Maceda and Estrada’s son JV Ejecrito, the former president was shaking hands with his supporters as he was being escorted inside precinct No. 132-B at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School, where about 3,810 residents are expected to vote.
Estrada arrived at around 12:48 p.m. after visiting the grave of his mother at the San Juan Cemetery. He was voter No. 65.
Unlike other San Juan residents who had to endure the long lines before voting, Estrada was quickly ushered into the precinct, hassle-free. But no one seemed to mind. In fact, it was the voters themselves who gave up their turn to let the former president cast his vote.
“Erap pa rin! Ang buong San Juan para lang kay Erap (We are still for Erap! The entire city of San Juan is still rooting for him),” said one voter who shaded Estrada’s name in her ballot.
And the former action star sure knows how to make a political comeback. After stepping down from Malacanang in 2001 and being convicted and eventually pardoned for plundering millions from the government, Estrada is all set to get back to office using the same means that won him the seat back in 1998: His mass appeal.
If recent surveys are to be believed, Estrada is the second most likely to win in this year’s presidential elections, just behind frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Today, election day, the former president proved he could still command a huge crowd. While casting his ballots, the number of journalists, photographers and bystanders swelled to more than 70 inside the cramped classroom. A foreign camera man had to be reprimanded earlier by the election officer for straying form the designated area for the media.
Like his movie days, Estrada was accorded the star treatment. Cameras were flashing nonstop as Estrada calmly shaded his ballot. The Board of Election Inspectors also did not let new voters enter the precinct while the former president was inside.
Meanwhile, two large electric fans towered between a perspiring Estrada who occasionally smiled at photographers who shouted “Presidente Erap” just to catch his attention.
And when Estrada finished voting, the swarm followed him outside, congratulating and assuring him of certain victory.
“Sigurado nang panalo ni Erap (Erap’s victory is certain),” cried one supporter who was nearly crushed by the crowd around Estrada. “Hindi kami bibitaw para sa kanya (We won’t give up for him).”