San Juan polls: Janella Estrada ‘pressured but confident’

MANILA, Philippines — Seeking to be elected as mayor of San Juan, Janella Ejercito-Estrada on Sunday said she was “pressured” and yet “confident” that she would be able continue her family’s legacy in the city.

Her grandfather, former President Joseph Estrada, who is now Manila mayor, and her father, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, were both previously elected for several terms for the city’s top post.

For her part, Janella Estrada said that her experience as a city councilor and vice mayor equipped her with the confidence to lead the city.

“Of course, there’s some pressure on me. But they are very supportive of my candidacy. So I think I can do it,” Estrada said, speaking in Filipino, on the sidelines of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) campaign rally at the Bonifacio Monument in San Juan.

Asked if she received any advice from her grandfather and father, Estrada said that public service was about being humble and about being ready to help those in need.

“They always tell me: ‘When you decide, you have to decide for the greater majority and you will never go wrong.’ So all programs and projects that I’m thinking of are for everyone,” Estrada said.

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Estrada is going against former Vice Mayor Francis Zamora in a showdown dubbed as one of the close mayoral races in the entire Metro Manila this election.

But Estrada said: “As of now, I can see that I’m ahead for coming elections. The people see who’s really deserving.”

“We didn’t force people to come here,” she said, referring to the estimated 33,000 people who attended her rally. “We just told them there would be a grand rally today and that if they would want come and give their support then just come.”

Estrada said among the issues she would focus on if elected were jobs, education, livelihood, sports, and social services.

She added that additional public schools and a sports center would be built in the city and that there would be free services at San Juan City Medical Center.

Estrada also vowed to continue the campaign against illegal drugs until the city could be declared drug-free.

READ: LOOK: Supporters gather in San Juan City for Janella Estrada’s mayoral bid

/atm