Former President Joseph Estrada files Monday his widely-awaited certificate of candidacy before the Commission of Elections (Comelec) for the highest position of the land in the May, 2010 elections expecting a flood of petitions among those who hate to see him elected again, but firmly  elieving that ultimately, “the Constitutional provision that sovereignty resides in the people will prevail.”

“After everything has been said and done, I believe that the sovereign will of the people would be recognized and upheld as I go deep into the political campaign with a lot of heart,” Estrada said on the eve of his journey to the Comelec offices in Intramuros.

He explained he chose Monday, Andres Bonifacio Day as his date of filing his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) “to pay tribute on the very ground where he is revered, to Bonifacio’s heroic initiative to liberate the Filipino masses from poverty in a struggle that will be long remembered by a grateful nation.”

Estrada will first attend mass this morning at the Liwasang Bonifacio joined by vice presidential candidate, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and members of his senatorial slate led by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and son, Senate President Protempore Jinggoy Estrada.

“Together, we will then proceed to the Comelec offices from Liwasanag Bonifacio to file my certificate of candidacy before high noon,” Estrada said.

A large gathering of supporters and admirers are expected to await Estrada’s early morning arrival at the Liwasang Bonifacio.

Estrada’s legal panel led by Justice Magdangal Elma will also be in attendance to immediately file and answer the expected  etitions seeking his disqualification to run in next year’s presidential race within the hour of the filing of Estrada’s CoC.