Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (Zambales, 1st District), who has been associated with former President Gloria Arroyo, said if the senator–judges base their decisions on the facts and evidence Corona will be acquitted, but if they act based on political reasons that is a different story.

Ejercito and Magsaysay, who plan to run for the Senate next year, were in Bacolod City Saturday and held a press conference after attending a gathering of Sangguniang Kabataan leaders.

The San Juan solon, who is the son of former President Joseph Estrada, said he signed the impeachment complaint against Corona

because he understood the frustration of President Benigno Aquino when, every time government zeroed in on former President Arroyo and her allies, the Supreme Court ruled against it.

“Corona is just a pawn, the real culprits and masters of scams and scandals is GMA and her minions,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito said he hopes that after the impeachment trial of Corona, the Aquino administration will relentlessly continue to pursue justice for the people.

“After all it was President Aquino’s campaign promise to bring all of those who took advantage in the past administration to justice. I’m banking on that. That’s why I support him (Aquino) because I believe in the president’s thrust for good governance. We are hoping those who raped this country will be brought to justice,” he said.

Ejercito said Corona’s issuing a waiver on his dollar accounts on Friday came too late and was a desperate move on the part of the defense to regain favorable public opinion.

The solon is taking up the challenge of Corona and will also sign a waiver to his dollar account on Monday.

Ejercito said there is a very big difference between the impeachment trial of his father and that of Corona.

The impeachment move against Joseph Estrada was a conspiracy

to wrest power from a popularly elected president, he said.

When it was time for his father to present his side, there was a walkout and then Chief Justice Hilario Davide, who was presiding and was part of the conspiracy, did not do anything to stop it, Ejercito added.

But slowly and surely, his father has been vindicated, he said, citing apologies made by those who had a part in his ouster. The biggest vindication was when former President Cory Aquino apologized saying she had made a mistake, he added.

On the other hand, at the impeachment trial of Corona, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has been very fair and firm, he said.

Meanwhile, Ejercito said the United National Alliance composed of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino headed by his father and the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan of Vice Presdeitn Jejomar Binay aims to field a formidable senatorial line up in 2013.

Already more than 16 people want to join the UNA senate slate, he said, but stressed that UNA does not consider itself an opposition group.

Asked about UNA’s inclusion of allies of Gloria Arroyo in its Senate line up, Ejercito said that as long as they are not part of scams or scandals he respects the decision of their party heads.

“I don’t feel comfortable being with GMA associates but that’s politics, you sometimes become allied with political adversaries,” he added.

Magsaysay, who is seen as an ally of Arroyo, said people elected during the time of the former president became allies of the administration.

She became a part of the Lakas CMD party, because she was told that, as an independent, she would not get membership in House committees, Magsaysay, a grand niece of former President Ramon Magsaysay, said.

It does not mean that if one was part of the former administration one should be branded as a bad person, she said, noting those who have criticized her for joining UNA have also been, at one time, allies of Arroyo.*CPG

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