Erap says he considered Manila street vendors' welfare during his term

Former Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada on Monday said he did not take away Manila's streets from vendors during his tenure because he considered their livelihood.

"Nililinis naman natin. Eh sabagay kung 'yung sasabihin mo sa akin na 'yung mga vendors nalinis, naalis lahat eh hindi ko kayang gawin 'yun hanggang walang kapalit na hanapbuhay sila," Estrada said on Susan Enriquez's report on GMA's State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

"A hungry stomach knows no law," according to the former mayor.

"Kayang-kaya, utusan mo lang. Hindi ba pwedeng sumunod sa mayor ang pulis saka mga bumbero? Orderan mo lang, sandali lang 'yun pero isipin mo naman 'yung damage na kawawa naman 'yung mga mahihirap na doon na lang umaasa sa pagkain nila," he said.

He, however, commended incumbent Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for the cleanup of the Bonifacio Monument near the city hall.

Moreno received the public's attention after he ordered clearing operations in various clogged streets of Manila days after taking office as its mayor.

Meanwhile, Estrada denied claims that there was no turnover of transition documents to the new administration and that the allowances of local employees have been withheld during his term.

"Putulin man ang leeg ko, lahat ng allowances ng mga pulis naibigay ko lumpsum. Wala kaming utang sa mga empleyado," he said.

Estrada said that he will only return to the political arena once Comelec holds a manual election instead of an automated one.

"Ngayon walang pag-asa, hindi ka makakapag-protesta dyan. Ngayon I signed off already, pag ganyan nobody has a chance," he said. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News