Children watch as the moving campaign bus of Pwersa ng Masa (PMP) presidential bet, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, passes by. (Photo by RICHARD VIÑAS)

SAGNAY, Camarines Sur – Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Thursday warmed up to the media upon learning that he was the "most covered" presidential candidate in the first few weeks of the campaign which started on February 9.

Estrada, who is seeking the presidency under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), refused to leave a press briefing Friday even after his staff reminded him of a motorcade through Caramoan, keeping his entire entourage waiting for him.

"Hang on, I'm still enjoying myself eh... It's okay. Just relax, I'm enjoying," the former president told his spokesperson Margaux Salcedo, who reminded him of his motorcade schedule after having lunch at the house of Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella.

In a study conducted by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Estrada has received a total of 36.29 minutes in combined TV and radio airtime, being featured in most number of news segments of new programs 24 Oras and Teledyaryo.

For the first time, the former president topped presidential candidates Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar of the Nacionalista Party who got 34.51 minutes and Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of the Liberal Party who got 29.34 minutes of airtime.

The study showed that Lakas Kampi CMD presidential bet ex-Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro ranked third, receiving a total airtime of 34.36 minutes while Bagumbayan presidential candidate Sen. Richard "Dick" Gordon got 17.33 minutes.

CMFR conducted the study from February 9 to February 27.

"That's very surprising. I'm trying my best to endear myself to the media because I believe the media can make or break the president," said Estrada, who found it difficult to hide his elation.

"...And the media can also remove the president," he added in jest, laughing.

Estrada, who claimed that the media were unkind to him while he was in power as president from 1998 to 2001, attributed the media mileage he received to his being "the one and true opposition in this election."

"Modesty aside, maybe it's because I'm still the true opposition. We call ourselves the true opposition because we have all the evidence to prove that we are the only true opposition in this election," he said.

The deposed president also acknowledged that the media attention that his entire camp received in the last month of campaign could have been the reason behind his big improvement in the last Pulse Asia presidential survey, where he jumped 6 points to 18 percent.

However, Estrada refused to comment that with only 60 days to go before the elections on May 10, the presidential race will only be about Villar and Aquino.

"I don’t want to comment on that. Someone might get mad at me. You're finding me enemies, ah," he said.