Erap may support Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno for mayor

Published May 1, 2012 12:36pm

Despite persistent reports he would be seeking the Manila mayoralty post in 2013, former President Joseph Estrada may end up supporting incumbent Vice Mayor Isko Moreno instead. According to report of Sandra Aquinaldo in GMA News TV's State of the Nation (SONA), such scenario is possible in case Estrada will not seek Manila's highest elective post in next year's polls. In fact, the same television report said Moreno will take his oath as member of Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) on May 3.

"Sa Mayo a tres ay susumpa na siya sa Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, sa aking partido," Estrada said in the report.

Reacting to Estrada's announcement, Morena said: "We're opening our options sa mga mangyayaring situation." In an earlier report, Ferdie Ramos, one of Estrada's spokespersons, claimed that Moreno would not run for mayor if Estrada would.

For quite some time now, Estrada has been rumored to be eyeing the Manila mayoralty post. The post is currently held by former Senator Alfredo Lim, who was once Estrada's Interior secretary during the latter's short-lived presidency. In May 2007, Lim even called for Estrada's release from house arrest. Estrada was arrested in 2001 on plunder and perjury charges. His six-year term as president was cut short when he was ousted in January 2001 in the "EDSA 2" bloodless uprising. He was convicted in September 2007 but was pardoned the following month.

In an earlier report, Ramos was quoted as saying that Estrada may seek Manila's mayoralty post to "continue his pro-poor advocacy and to 'settle issues' with Lim."

Ramos said Lim did not implement "certain projects" for the poor, and that Estrada's camp "felt betrayed by Mayor Lim."

In 2008, Estrada and Lim parted ways when the latter left the former's PMP after the party disapproved of the allegedly "abusive" takeover of a private slaughterhouse in Tondo.

San Juan resident

Estrada is a known resident of San Juan, where he began his political career as mayor in 1967. To be eligible as Manila mayor, he will need to have lived in the city for at least one year.

Section 39 of the Local Government Code states that:

(a) An elective local official must be a citizen of the Philippines; a registered voter in the barangay, municipality, city, or province or, in the case of a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan, the district where he intends to be elected; a resident therein for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the election; and able to read and write Filipino or any other local language or dialect.

In an earlier report, Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said the one-year residency requirement has already been fulfilled, because of the ancestral home in Tondo. According to Jimenez, Estrada can run in Manila, as long as he transfers his registration records to Manila. Moving in?

Next week, Estrada is reportedly set to move in to his new home at the corner of Altura and Mangga Streets in the city.

"Uumpisahan ko na. Uuwi na ako doon baka by next week. Baka maglilipat na ako," said Estrada, who has remained undecided whether he will run for Manila mayor or not.

Estrada's soon-to-be neighbors have already seen him visiting his new home. "Noong Sabado po sa kanto. Kinawayan po namin, tapos kumaway din po siya," said Jordan Montalbo, a resident in the area.

The newly-purchased home is a mansion formerly owned by the Legarda family, and includes smaller houses inside the compound. According to the report, the property was bought three months ago, and is currently being paid in installment.

"Maganda yung ano, maraming puno. Maraming lilim at saka accessible sa dalawang kalye. May lumang bahay doon, pinaayos ko lang," Estrada said in the report.

"Pinaka antique siya na bahay na mansion, yung gitna, pagkatapos may mga tatlo pang siguro para sa mga anak niya yun," said Carmen Espino, a neighbor of Estrada.

According to the barangay chairman, Estrada's move will benefit the residents.

"Malaking advantage sa amin yun sa barangay namin, dahil marami kaming indigent dito, marami kaming mahihirap na constituents," said Barangay Chairman Danito Espino. — with Carmela Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: josephestrada, erap