MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday took a swipe at his predecessor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, saying the six years given him by the public to lead the city were already enough to prove his worth as a local chief executive.
In an interview with Radyo Inquirer, Moreno was asked to comment on the reported remarks of Estrada on the recent developments he has been enforcing in the country’s capital city.
“Good luck sa kanya. Tama na ‘yung napagbigyan na siya ng taongbayan ng anim na taon. I wish him good health. I wish him long life. I wish him well. More than anything else, we will continue now,” he said.
Moreno said he no longer wants to blame anyone for the problems of the city he is now pressed to address.
“Ang katotohanan hindi pwedeng ikubli… at ang katotohanan ay nakita ng taong bayan last week. ‘Yun ang katotohanan kahit ano pang chiwariwariwap, chechebureche nila,” he said.
Estrada ran for reelection in the recent midterm elections but lost to Moreno, who was also his vice mayor during his first term as local chief executive.
“Nagdesisyon na ang taongbayan. Let’s move on. Let’s govern. Tigilan na nila ang ampalaya. Ang ampalaya, maganda lang sa diabetes,” Moreno said.
READ: Quit being bitter, Isko Moreno tells Estrada camp
During the interview, the neophyte mayor also criticized the previous administration for not addressing the mounds of human waste found in the vicinity of Bonifacio Shrine near the Manila City Hall.
During his inspection at the area, Moreno accidentally stepped on a mound of poop.
READ: Manila police precinct commander sacked over filthy Bonifacio Shrine
“Disheartening. It’s literally disheartening. Literal, the entire floor is full of shit. Hindi ko alam sa kanila kung anong uri ng gobyerno ang pamamalakad nila pero ang katotohanan, nakakalugmok. I cannot choose words to describe it,” he said. /je/ac