TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan – Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada denied last Friday night that there are ongoing talks between his camp and embattled administration party Lakas-Kampi candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro for a possible realignment of forces even as he welcomed a possible endorsement of Lakas party founder former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Estrada, standard bearer of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), whom he described as a "casual friend" has not asked him for a meeting contrary to newspaper reports (not Manila Bulletin).

“In fairness to Secretary Gibo, we have not seen each other for quite some time and we have not talked to each other this past, I think, almost two months now. We have not talked to each other," Estrada said, of the former Defense Secretary of the Arroyo administration.

"And whenever we have a chance to talk, it's not about politics. Just about what's happening to the country," he added.

Estrada said he last saw Teodoro whom he said "one of most qualified presidential candidates next to himself," during one of the presidential debates he attended.

"In fairness to Sec. Gibo, wala kaming usapan tungkol sa sasama siya sa akin o sasama ako sa kaniya. Wala. We just respect each other. Ako, I respect Sec. Gibo (We have not talked about joining forces. There's no such thing)," Estrada said, during an ambush interview at the Hotel Roma here.

Estrada refused to comment on the problems hounding the administration party, particularly the defection of its top officials to the Liberal Party (LP) and the Nacionalista Party (NP).

"That's the problem of the party and I don't want to comment on that," he said.

Estrada said "no way" he would give way to Teodoro in case he asks him to do so but he would be willing to adopt Teodoro if he chose to abandon his party.

"Anytime. I hold him in high regard. He's one of the most qualified presidential candidates," Estrada said. He said that such scenario is "unlikely" with the May 10 election.

Estrada also welcomed a possible endorsement coming from Lakas party founder Ramos.

"Salamat naman. Siyempre nagpapasalamat ako na kung sakaling totoo, nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila," Estrada said, as he stressed that he only heard about the news of possible endorsement from reporters.

Estrada was Vice President during the Ramos administration from 1992-1998.

"Maybe because of my vast experience. I've been a mayor, Senator, Vice President and President already. I was also assigned to head the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (during his term)," Estrada said when asked why he is being considered to be endorsed by Ramos.

Former House Speaker and Ramos' fellow Lakas party founder Pangasinan Rep. Jose De Venecia Jr., earlier said that Estrada is one of the candidates he and Ramos are considering to endorse as their presidential candidate.

“We will choose from Gilbert Teodoro, Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar and Joseph Estrada because these are the four leading contenders. At the end, we will come up with a decision in the next few days. We will call a press conference,” said De Venecia, who claimed that he and Ramos represent the Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats party.

De Venecia, the former House Speaker was Ramos' bet against Estrada in the 1998 presidential race. Estrada won by a landslide against De Venecia.

It would be recalled that De Venecia had a falling out with President Arroyo when his son exposed the anomalous national broadband network (NBN) project which was allegedly being pushed by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo. De Venecia has also questioned the merger of Lakas-CMD with Arroyo's party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi). The merged party has been marred by defections of its allies to other parties especially to Villar's Nacionalista Party and Aquino's Liberal Party.

Ramos, the founder of Lakas-CMD endorsed the son and namesake of De Venecia, Jose "Joey" De Venecia III after a forum on Philippine and German cooperation organized by the Hans Seidel Foundation in Makati City last Thursday night.

The young De Venecia is running for senator under Estrada's PMP party.