Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Senator Benigno Aquino III met last Sunday evening in an undisclosed place in what many political observers anticipated as a last-ditch attempt to unify opposition parties and field a common candidate to challenge administration nominee, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the May 2010 presidential derby.

Whether or not there was a definite agreement it could not be ascertained as Estrada refused to issue an official statement beyond saying “it was an okay meeting” with a smile.

The popular opposition leader also did not identify the venue or the names of others present aside from Senator Jinggoy Estrada who also declined to issue any statement or comment on what transpired during the meeting.

The senior Estrada, however, mentioned that one of the issues discussed was the issue of a possible declaration of a failure of elections amid concerns and questions haunting the highly-criticized computerized program being aggressively promoted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Meanwhile, a covenant is being worked out among leading opposition stalwarts aimed at arriving at common solutions to intra-party issues and contentions.

The opposition party covenant will be prepared by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, and the document is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.

Sunday’s meeting between Estrada and Aquino finally happened after weeks of delays. It was their first encounter following the death of former President Cory Aquino and the subsequent announcement of her son accepting the draft of Liberal Party to run for president in next year’s May elections.

It was the first time Estrada met with Aquino which was initially planned to include all Cory’s children giving rise to speculations that a request would be made by the family to support their relative in his quest for the 2010 presidential pot.

Estrada and the late Mrs. Aquino became very close in the last few years of her life, their friendship nourished and enriched following her public apology to Estrada for her participation in the EDSA II power-grab event that forced the opposition leader to go on official leave from Malacañang, paving the way for then Vice-President Arroyo to ascend to the corridors of power.

Estrada, meanwhile, said that he has long pardoned all those who have betrayed him, including Sen. Panfilo Lacson for having twice-maligned him and his family in public.

He added that it is son, Jinggoy, Lacson’s colleague in the Philippine Senate, “who is taking it “deeply.”

Estrada aired hope that over time Jinggoy would also learn to “forgive and forget,” just as he had forgiven the treachery of those who betrayed him and his family “so many, many times over.”

“Being able to forgive is a testament to my ever-present faith on friendship. People may come and go, but friends will always be there, one way or the other in the best and worst of times,” Estrada said.