MANILA -- Former President, Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Saturday backed the controversial remark of President Rodrigo Duterte about "separating" from the United States, but warned it might cost him his position.

While in China for a state visit, Duterte announced his "separation" from the US and said the Philippines will be more dependent on Beijing in the future.

In a statement, Estrada said he understands where the President is coming from because he also experienced interference from the US when he was still head of the state.

"Tama naman ginagawa ni Pangulong Duterte, bakit sila nakikiaalam? [What President Duterte did was right, why are they interfering?] We are a sovereign country. We have our own Constitution," he said.

But he quickly noted that Duterte's announcement might "expose him to political risks such as the US moving to oust him from office."

"Iyon ang pangamba ko. Sa akin nga, ginawa [That's my worry. It was done to me]," said Estrada, referring to his 2001 ouster which he believes the US government had a hand in.

The former president said the US tried to "coax him into doing what they wanted." He cited the war he waged against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2000, which then US Defense Secretary William Cohen allegedly asked him to stop.

"Iyong laban ko noon sa MILF, pinakialaman ako, pinatitigil ako [They interfered in my fight with the MILF, they asked me to stop]," he said.

"When they suddenly removed me, pinabayaan nila MILF, kaya iyon, nagtuluy-tuloy pa rin sa pambobomba [they let the MILF go, so the bombings continued]," he added.

This, he said, is why he supports the country's move to realign with China.

"Kasi ang China, hindi nakikialam sa atin, sa ating independence [China does not interfere with our affairs, with our independence]," he said.

Duterte, however, clarified upon his return to Manila on Friday night that he wasn't severing US-Philippine ties.

"As a separation, what I'm really saying is a separation of foreign policy," he said.