UNA IN MANILA FIRES FIRST SALVO

OPENING the official  campaign period for local candidates on Easter Sunday, former President Joseph Estrada and his runningmate, re-electionist Vice Mayor Isko Moreno fired the first salvo against political opponent, re-electionist Manila Alfredo Lim.

Estrada cited  the ‘divorce’ between Lim and Moreno which happened exactly one year on the date of their proclamation rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.  He said another ‘divorce’ occurred between Lim and 29 of the 36 councilors of Manila who joined Moreno in transferring to Estrada’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

 

“They saw the corruption,  negligence, and the absence of direction under the leadership of Manila,” said Estrada.

 

He noted that these councilors from Manila’s six districts will serve the Manila City Council and will craft the ordinance that will first serve the interest of Manilenos.

 

“The interest and welfare of the poor Filipinos will come first (UNA), “ assured Estrada.

He said the councilors and four congressional candidates of UNA will join him and Moreno in regaining the beauty and order in Manila which have deteriorated under the administration of Lim. 

He even asked the crowd in jest, “is he (Lim) the incumbent or outgoing mayor?”

In opening his speech around 10:30 Monday night, Estrada greeted his orange-clad supporters: “Happy Easter! Happy Easterada!”

“On this day, Jesus Christ resurrected from  the death. We deliberatedly timed this proclamation rally with the celebration of Christ Resurrection because in running for mayor, I aim to resurrect  Manila,” related Estrada.

      

“Let us offer our prayers on Easter Sunday for the resurrection of the poor Filipinos from poverty brought about by criminalities and corruption. Let us all celebrate with Manilenos their resurrection from poverty,” he said.      

He guaranteed to revive the beauty of Manila for each Manileno family with the help of their nine senatoriables.

      

“First our name is UNA. We don’t go for party names because that’s only good during election time. After elections, they (candidates)  are the only ones dividing among themselves, the poor are already out of the picture,” related Estrada who remains confident of grabbing the mayoral seat.

“So our name is UNA because you should come first (UNA), the Filipino people should come first (UNA) and the poor should come first (UNA). Our candidates are all screened by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate Speaker Juan Ponce Enrile. All of them have no taint of corruption. Their names can be trusted by our people,” Estrada spoke of their candidates.

 

Binay and Enrile are stalwarts of UNA and the party’s top endorsers. Binay’s PDP-Laban coalesced with Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) to form UNA.

Reacting to the pronouncement  of Lim’s camp that they set their proclamation rally on April 1 Fool’s Day to remind voters not to be fooled by the false promises of their political rivals in Manila, Estrada remarked: “puro luko-luko ‘yan (Manila local candidates) kaya gusto nila April Fools.  

Estrada’s vice mayoral candidate said it was exactly one year when he and the 29 councilors woke  up to the truth nothing  more will happen under the  current administration.

       Moreno noted that if they will just talk about their interest, it would be much, much better to be an ally of the mayor.

       “Do you not wonder why of the 36 councilors, 29 left the Mayor and joined me and former President Estrada?  Are we that foolish to just do it? Was there’s something wrong with us, or was there something wrong with them? Think about it,” said Moreno who is running on his third and last term of office.

       He said they set aside all their interests and took the risk in leaving Lim’s side  which caused them all their privileges and resources that were supposed to redound to the benefits of their constituents.

        He attributed the current occurrences in Manila to the election for the past 21 years of only two mayors who were even at odd with each other—Lim and his predecessor, Lito Atienza.

       Lim was Manila mayor in 1998-2007 and 2007-2013 while Atienza from 1992-1998.

“My question is that 21 years ago,  is there such a thing as Fort Bonifacio in Taguig? Before, it was called  the municipality of Taguig, province of Rizal, but   21 years later, it is Taguig City, Global City.  Twenty-one years ago, was there such a thing as Eastwood development?  It was then called Libis where salvage victims are being thrown. But now, there is Eastwood, Eastwood development in Quezon City. Have you gone to Fairview? Before you reach Fairview, there is UP on the left and Ayala Techno Hub on the right, in Quezon City again. Twenty-one years ago, it was a grazing area for carabaos and cow....Twenty-one years ago, was there a Mall of Asia? In Pasay, now there is SMDC development, but 21 years ago, people bathe there in the sea.There’s  such thing as Entertainment City in Paranaque City. Last March, they opened one of the five- Solare... So what’s in Manila after 21 years?” asked Moreno.  

He then urged the Manila voters to try another leadership, the one being offered by Estrada. 

As a Manileno, Moreno said he is proud to have a former President running the Manila City Hall.

Estrada is running under an agenda of urban renewal with a plan to make over the city and restore its lost glory caused by years of mismanagement and neglect. (end)