Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza said Wednesday that the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) is confident that former President Joseph Estrada would eventually emerge as winner in this year’s presidential race because his (Estrada’s) supporters coming from the poor and marginalized sectors are aware that his ouster in 2001 “was a product of conspiracy among the elite and wealthy.”

Plaza, who is running for senator under the PMP, claimed that despite Estrada’s innocence, he was booted out of office because he favored the poor over the elite during his tenure in Malacañang.

He said Estrada instituted programs that benefitted the poor and the less privileged.

But, Plaza said, “wealthy personalities” conspired with civil society groups and even the military against the former President after he placed the welfare of the poor on top of his priorities.

“This is now a battle between the ruler and the ruled…. The rich and the elite had conspired against him (Estrada) when he tried to protect the poor, the masa,” Plaza said in Filipino.

He cited the public apology made by former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay for his role in the 2001 EDSAPeople Power revolt that removed Estrada from Malacañang.

Yasay issued the apology last Sunday during the 25th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City.

Plaza claimed that the fact that three personalities -- Yasay, Bishop Antonio Tobias and the late President Cory Aquino -- have apologized to the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard bearer was a glaring proof of the conspiracy to kick Estrada out of office.

Plaza said that, like Estrada, he had always opposed measures that could further saddle the poor. He noted that he was among those who fought against the imposition of value-added tax on basic commodities, because he believes it would just be an additional burden to poor families.

For siding with the opposition and being one of the most vocal critics of the Arroyo administration, Plaza said he was among the lawmakers who did not receive development fund allocations for two years.