Tend to San Juan first, Estrada told

Former President Joseph Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former President Joseph Estrada should first address the problems of the poor in his native San Juan City before eyeing the mayoralty in Manila, a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Saturday.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chair of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, noted that Estrada’s family had ruled San Juan for years but many of the city’s problems remained unresolved.

“There are a lot of poor in San Juan. If his family cannot address the problems in such a small city, what more Manila? Can he do it?” Pabillo asked reporters.

Estrada was mayor of San Juan from 1969 to 1986. The current mayor is Guia Gomez, the mother of Estrada’s son, JV Ejercito, who is the city’s representative.

Pabillo cited among San Juan’s problems the violent demolition of shanties in January which left a number of people injured.

“His family is involved in the demolitions in San Juan… what happened at Corazon de Jesus should serve as a model. They should address that first,” said Pabillo.

The Commission on Elections, meanwhile, said Estrada has until Friday to transfer his voter registration from San Juan to Manila if he plans to run for mayor of the capital city next year.

“He should register before May 12 because it’s in the law that it should be one year before the elections,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez.

Estrada earlier said he would announce his decision on Friday.