ERAP MOVES TO HOUSE IN MANILA TO
FIGHT 'DIRTY HARRY'
[PHOTO - NEW RESIDENT. Former President Joseph Estrada
drives a jeepney with Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno to his new house in Santa
Mesa, Manila. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA]
MANILA,
MAY 11, 2012
(INQUIRER) By Jaymee T. Gamil - No more
beating around the bush: former President Joseph Estrada is running for mayor of
Manila next year.
After weeks of evasive but leading talk, Estrada finally announced his
mayoral run after moving to his new home on Manga Avenue in Barangay 581, in
Santa Mesa, Manila, Wednesday.
Talk of Estrada challenging Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in next year's midterm
elections has been going around since last year. But Estrada always said he was
uncertain about running for any office in the 2013 midterms.
But his intentions began to show when he bought the half-hectare property in
Santa Mesa recently. He was obviously trying to meet the one-year residency
requirement for local candidates.
On Wednesday, after moving into his new home, Estrada, speaking in Filipino,
told reporters: "I'm here to declare my candidacy for mayor of Manila."
His supporters greeted his declaration with a roar of approval, and repeated
chants of Estrada's nickname: "Erap!"
Estrada said he was ending his long political career by serving the people of
Manila. Born in the city's Tondo district, he had been mayor of San Juan City,
senator and vice president.
One term only
He said, however, that he would serve for only one term.
"I can handle a three-year term," he said. "I will improve Manila then I will
turn it over to Vice Mayor Isko," he said, referring to Manila Vice Mayor
Francisco Domagoso, who was sitting beside him at the news conference.
Domagoso and 28 Manila councilors switched to Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang
Pilipino (PMP) party last week, offering as an explanation "political
differences" with Lim.
Lim announced on Tuesday that he would run for another term as mayor. He said
he was looking for a vice mayoral running mate, as Domagoso had decamped to
Estrada.
Reacting to Estrada's move to Manila and declaration of his political plans,
Lim said, "Good luck."
Peace and order
Estrada said he would run on a platform of peace and order to attract
investors to Manila. New investments would create jobs in the city, ease poverty
and enable the capital to catch up with the more prosperous suburbs, he said.
Estrada "officially" moved to the Santa Mesa house Wednesday morning,
arriving at the head of an entourage of his supporters and three trucks of
furniture.
Estrada drove his campaign vehicle, a converted SUV marked "Jeep ni Erap,"
with Domagoso riding beside him. Estrada's wife, former senator Luisa "Loi"
Estrada and daughter Jackie, rode in the passenger seat behind them. All three
wore orange, Estrada's campaign color.
The former movie action hero turned politician was greeted at his new home by
former senator Ernesto Maceda, at least 25 Manila councilors, a brass band and
fans carrying welcome streamers and wearing orange shirts or tops emblazoned
with "We Love Erap."
Some streamers and placards indicated that some of the supporters weren't
just neighbors in Santa Mesa but residents of Estrada's district, Tondo.
Most of the placards carried messages of admiration in Filipino, such as
"Erap aming pangarap," but there were some that took digs at Lim: "Bawal ang
Dirty sa Manila," referring to Lim's moniker, "Dirty Harry," for his
unconventional methods of dealing with criminals when he was an officer on the
city's police force.
For 'change'
Santa Mesa resident Pacita Florendo, 60, said she would support Estrada in
the election "for a change." She said she was curious about Estrada's plans for
the city.
Florendo shrugged off Estrada's record as an impeached president. "Those were
just because of his political rivals. It is up to the public to judge him," she
said in Filipino.
The walled-off, gated compound was open to the public for the day, with a
"boodle" lunch table and ice cream carts set up in the front yard, drawing
hundreds of locals. Children freely wandered around the driveway in front and in
the gardens flanking the house, though few were allowed to see the pool and the
gazebo at the back.
Loi also
The house, formerly the ancestral home of the well-heeled Legarda family and
political headquarters of President Ramon Magsaysay, boasts of at least three
spacious common areas and at least five rooms. Ferdie Ramos, one of Estrada's
spokespersons, said the house was 60 years old and cost Estrada P80 million.
The house was already furnished, but sparsely decorated. There were tables
and chairs, a piano, a flat-screen television and portraits of Estrada on the
walls.
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Estrada should have a "clear
intention" to live in Manila before he can be allowed to become a registered
voter and run for mayor of the city.
"Physical presence or actual occupation is required plus a clear intention to
stay in the place," Macalintal said. "Mere ownership or possession of the house
in [Manila] is not enough," Macalintal said in a text message.
Estrada said he would really live there. "I don't know if the First
Lady"—referring to his wife—"will live with me here," he said. "But I think,
yes. She might be forced to live here," he said. Then he added, grinning, "Joke
only. She's the only one who will live with me here."
Compliance
In an earlier interview, Ramos said Estrada would transfer his voter
registration to Manila at noon today.
When he does that, Estrada meets the one-year residency requirement,
Macalintal said.
"Next year's election is going to be held on May 13. He moved to Manila on
May 9, so he has already complied with the one-year residency requirement,"
Macalintal said, but stressed: "Provided he will really live there, he would be
seen there, and if he leaves that house, he will return there consistently."
With reports from Jerome Aning and Ann Clariz Yap, trainee
Lim lashes back at Isko Moreno, Estrada: Attacks come from
'trapos' Ex-President taking jeep, allies, 'aparador' in move to Manila home
today By Jaymee T. Gamil Philippine Daily Inquirer
[PHOTO - MAYOR FRED 'DIRTY HARRY' LIM]
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim finally broke his silence and answered the issues
hurled against him by his vice mayor and the camp of his apparent rival in the
2013 elections, former President Joseph Estrada.
In a statement yesterday, Lim dismissed the complaints against him as mere
lies and muckraking typically coming from trapos (traditional politicians).
Lim, a former Manila police chief, began his counterattack on the eve of what
the Estrada camp called his "official transfer" to his Manila residence at 589
Mangga Ave. in Altura, Sta Mesa.
An advisory from Estrada's media group yesterday said he will lead a convoy
this morning from his home on Polk Street, North Greenhills, San Juan, to the
Sta. Mesa property that he bought from the Legarda family.
The roadshow promises to be vintage Erap. Estrada, a former movie star, will
drive the "Jeep Ni Erap" vehicle used in previous election campaigns, said his
media officer, Ferdie Ramos.
The convoy will include vehicles for Estrada's allies in Manila, as well as a
truck for some furniture and personal effects, like an aparador (cabinet), as
added symbolism for the change of residence, Ramos told the Inquirer.
Estrada's move was evidently timed to meet the one-year residency requirement
for local electoral candidates. The 75-year-old politician, however, has only
dropped hints and telling gestures—like his recent gift-giving activities on
Lim's turf—and has yet make an official announcement whether he will challenge
Lim, 82.
In 2008, Mayor Lim, then head of Estrada's party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino,
had a falling-out with the ex-President after the latter denounced as "inhuman"
the manner by which a councilor was bodily carried out of a family-owned
slaughterhouse that was to be taken over by the city.
"Stop discrediting me because that's what traditional politicians do. It's
only natural that if we act, people get affected. That's about it, we cannot
satisfy everybody," Lim said yesterday.
The mayor cited the rationale behind some of his decisions that were now
being questioned by Vice Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, such as the
recent layoff of city hall workers and the nondisbursement of salaries and
financial aid to employees like teachers and policemen.
Domagoso cited these issues as among the reasons why he and 28 other
councilors decided to join Estrada's party for the 2013 polls.
Lim said he was simply complying with a Commission on Audit memorandum issued
in March stating that the city government had overpaid P1.1 billion in salaries
in 2011.
He said he was advised by COA to freeze hiring and reduce temporary and
casual employees, including researchers and consultants in all offices,
including his own.
As to the financial assistance, Lim also cited a COA memo issued two years
ago which stopped the disbursement for purportedly being tantamount to "double
compensation."
"They (my critics) make me look like a cruel person … [but] I can't question
COA orders. I have to follow them or I will face charges. This is obviously an
attempt to discredit me," he said in Filipino.
Lim also reacted to media statements recently made by Estrada, who took a
swipe at the mayor for supposedly having done nothing of significance to improve
Manila.
"If I've done nothing, how come we have six public hospitals and even free
college education?" Lim said, adding that more high-rise buildings had sprouted
in Manila since his administration took over in 2007. With a
report from Ann Clariz Yap
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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