Former President Joseph Estrada appealed Wednesday to those aspiring to run for the nation’s highest position not drop his name and say he has asked them to be a running mate in 2010 “to advance and boost their political interests and capital.”

“In the first place, I am not a candidate and, therefore, have no right to choose a running mate because doing so would be unfair to them,” Estrada said.

At least two presidential hopefuls have publicly claimed Estrada had asked them to be his running mate, with one declaring her refusal and the other saying that Estrada had asked him to slide down as his vice president.

The popular opposition leader made it clear that while he has been telling presidential aspirants to unite for the sake of victory, “offering a supposed vice-presidential slot is not on the agenda, mainly because I am not a candidate.”

Estrada remains firm on his stand that only a united opposition can win in next year’s presidential race.

“An opposition in disarray is the perfect, and only recipe for a repeat of the massive electoral fraud that marked the 2004 presidential elections unfolding before the international community that saw my best friend, the late Fernando Poe, Jr. cheated of the presidency that rightfully belonged to him,” he said.

Given the enormous resources of the government and the electoral skills of its operators in thwarting the will of the people, “it would not take a genius to figure out how the massive cheating in 2004 could not have a painless encore in 2010,” he said.

Estrada said that while he highly respects the presidential ambitions of some hopefuls, dropping his name “is not a healthy and mature political exercise.”

Early this week, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II claimed that Estrada had asked him to slide down as his vice presidential candidate.

“What Estrada told me was for me to consider being his vice president,” Roxas said in a news report.

When Estrada confronted Roxas over the claim, the senator clarified that he “probably misinterpreted Estrada’s advice to him.”

Roxas came into the national stage after Estrada appointed him Trade and Industry secretary. However, Roxas was among the first to abandon Estrada during the Senate impeachment proceedings against the movie actor-turned-politician.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Jovito Salonga expressed doubt whether Estrada can run again.

“Sa kanyang (Erap’s) paniniwala lagi siyang qualified (na tumakbo). Sa akin medyo may duda ako,” Salonga told House reporters in an interview.

Salonga, chairman emeritus of the Liberal Party where Estrada was once a member, also questioned the former president’s motives for his decision to run for president in 2010.

“Si Erap naman ay para sa kanyang sarili. Ano ang pinaglalaban (niya)? Wala siyang cause or orientation,” Salonga said.

Salonga nevertheless pointed out that the decision as to whether Estrada is still qualified to run ultimately rests with the Supreme Court (SC).

Meanwhile, lawmakers from the House majority and minority blocs warned that Estrada’s decision will further divide the political opposition.

“Erap is always threatening to run again. But reactions are mixed, in favor or against. And it is not unifying at all the opposition,” said militant party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela.