Coopted: Nasindak na ba talaga si Erap?

An interview over Korina Sanchez's show of Speaker Joe de Venecia and his wife tells it all--there's something really wrong with his relationship with the president. He verified the testimony of his son of the "shouting match". And in classic de Venecia fashion, he merely shrugged and said that "they're still friends" despite what Gina described as their "cordial relationship" with Arroyo.

What can be gleaned from all these are:

1. JDV admitted that their relationship with the president has been totally strained, bolstering the credibility of Joey as a witness.
2. There's really a campaign to oust him from the Speakership, as what Majority Floor Leader Nograles intimated during his own interview.
3. JDV is not clueless of what's happening but he tries to hide his animosity with the president for reasons unknown.
4. Administration party is divided over the issue of Erap's pardon.
5. JDV is really not fit to be a leader because his nature is that of a soft, cowardly person.

Is Erap really been coopted?

JDV also intimated that Erap Estrada has been coopted by the administration. He says that "Erap will issue strong statements" in the next couple of days. What are those strong statements? Is it against the president or for the president? There's a feeling among allies of the opposition that Erap has been effectively gagged by Arroyo. But, is it really the case?

Nasindak na ba talaga si Erap?

As I wrote here some months ago, Erap's family is not really that determined to go on an all-out war against Arroyo. This has been evident since 2002. They're just interested in freeing Erap. They just want to spend money to create the conditions to justify the release of Erap (i.e. those surveys, etc.).

A PDI report today says that Arroyo is mulling the possibility of offering the poverty commission job for Erap. Is this the result of negotiations between them? That Erap will now be working with Arroyo in government? So now, are we seeing the unification of both administration and the Erap opposition? If this is the case, do we now see Lakas-NUCD being sidelined and marginalized? Are we looking at an ERap-ARROYO alliance thru the Kampi?

Effects

Admit it or not, the anti-GMA forces are now in a quandary. They lost a major player. However, what's good about this is the possibility of these forces gaining the camp of FVR-JDV. Yes, I believe there is really a unification of all former EDSA 2 forces. The question is --do they still have the strength to oust Arroyo?