Erap camp extends conciliatory hand to Mayor Alfredo Lim

The camp of former President and Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada and re-elected Vice Mayor Isko Moreno is reaching out to defeated Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, saying the country's capital should be uniteed and be moving forward. 
 

“We will initiate unity, the city was divided [during the elections,]” Moreno said during their proclamation Tuesday.

With around 4 percent of votes yet to be counted, Estrada and Moreno were declared winners in the Manila race early Tuesday afternoon.

The total number of votes counted in Manila's local elections was at 96 percent when the Comelec handed down its decision to lower the threshold of votes for victory.

 

“Itong [mga] huling taon ng aking buhay, wala akong hinahangad kundi ialay ang aking karanasan. Kailangan namin ang tulong ng bawat isa sa inyo para ibalik ang sigla ng Maynila,” Estrada said.

 

Isko, future mayor?

 

Estrada has repeatedly said that he will only serve for one term as Manila mayor, openning up speculations that his running mate Moreno will be gunning for the top Manila spot come 2016.

 

But in an interview with GMA News TV's News To Go on Wednedsay, Moreno said a mayoralty bid is farthest from his mind, days after the elections. 

 

“That's the least of my concerns. Kakatapos lang ng halalalan,” Moreno said, adding that he and Estrada would rather concentrate on the many problems facing Manila.

 

“Uphill battle kami, when we're trying to reach the top, lahat ng indulto [naranasan namin,]” he said, noting that for his third term as vice mayor, he will concentrate on uplifting Manileno’s quality of life. 

 

“Traffic, basura, safety, peace and order, madaming tao, pero kulang sa infrastructure,” Moreno enumerated, noting that manila has a daytime population of around four million, more than double the 1.6 million night time population.

 

“Ito yung bibigyan namin ng atensyon, hindi yung 2016,” he said.

 

“Kaya naman kami pinalad ni President Erap kasi yung mga issue na rineraise namin ay nag-eexist, ay nakikita ng mga tao,” Moreno added. — with Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News