Lakas official in QC defects to Estrada camp

The camp of administration standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro has lost another key official.

But if it's any consolation, Representative Annie Rose Susano, Lakas-Kampi-CMD chair for vote-rich Quezon City, did not join Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of the Liberal Party or Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party, the survey frontrunners.

Susano opted to back the candidacy of former president Joseph Estrada, who considered her defection an early birthday present.

"This is one of the best gifts I've ever received," said Estrada, who turns 73, on Monday.

Besides a victory in the presidential derby, Estrada wished for an "honest, orderly and genuine election."

Estrada's campaign manager, Ernesto Maceda, said two senatorial candidates from Lakas-Kampi had approached his camp and asked to join his slate. He did not name them but said they were from northern Luzon.

"They believe they have no chance of winning under Gibo," Maceda said in a press conference at Estrada's house in North Greenhills, San Juan.

Estrada declined to identify the two candidates, insisting he did not want to say anything that would "put them in a negative light."

"I'd rather keep quiet. Anyway, our slate is full," he told reporters.

But Estrada appeared excited at the idea of getting Teodoro as a member of his Cabinet in case he won. He said he would take him with "open arms."

"I think he will be good as a justice secretary," he said. "I admire him as a person, as a public official. He's a very principled man and very intelligent."

But he was apparently careful not to appear like he was trying to derail Teodoro's candidacy, especially in the wake of defections of Lakas-Kampi stalwarts.

"In fairness to him, I don't think he will withdraw. I think he will push through with his candidacy," he said.

Susano, who is running for mayor, promised to deliver at least 650,000 votes, representing nearly half of the city's 1.6 million registered voters.

Maceda said the projection would be more than enough to propel Estrada back to Malacañang. "Five hundred thousand votes will probably be our margin of victory so (Susano) will be the one to deliver it," he said.

Susano herded members of her slate to Estrada's residence, on Sunday, where they took turns in getting a photo-op with the ousted president.

Susano claimed she decided to back Estrada in response to a so-called clamor from her constituents. "The people decided, not me," she said.

But it appeared that Susano made the decision without formally resigning as an administration party chairman.

"Lakas knows everything that I'm doing...Whatever (my partymates') decision will be, so be it," she said.

Susano used to be with the camp of Estrada's Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino when she first ran for councilor.