Joseph Estrada. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Friday night staged in Tondo, Manila, the first of what would turn out to be “back-to-back” grand rallies for their final campaign salvo with only two days left before the midterm elections on Monday.
Former President Joseph Estrada led the first miting de avance at a congested corner near the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish, attracting more than a thousand supporters in the city where he hopes to end his political career as mayor.
The next rally was in Makati City, the political bailiwick of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who put up UNA in preparation for his presidential run in 2016.
Another miting de avance is scheduled in Bagong Silang, Caloocan, tonight, two days before voters troop to polling precincts for the country’s second nationwide automated elections.
Why UNA was holding not only one but three grand rallies was not out of the ordinary for the 76-year-old Estrada.
“(It’s a) saturation drive… just to be sure,” he told reporters after hearing Mass with his running-mate, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, and local candidates at a nearby church.
The Tondo rally had a showbiz flavor with Eat Bulaga! Noon-time showm mainstays Ruby Rodriguez and Wally Bayola hosting the affair.
For the first time since the early part of the campaign, all three senior leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance—the so-called “3 Kings” of UNA—came in full force for its senatorial ticket’s miting de avance in Tondo, Manila Friday night.
But unlike their previous sorties, UNA candidates focused on courting votes for the man of the hour, former President Joseph Estrada, who is seeking to finish his storied political career as mayor of Manila.
With Estrada were the two other top UNA leaders, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who missed most of the UNA campaign sorties because of an eye problem.
“I come here not as a candidate for senator but as someone who’s asking you to vote for President Erap,” Rep. JV Ejercito told the crowd, echoing the appeal of his fellow UNA candidates.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said pretty much the same thing, noting that the manila mayoral post would form the “last chapter” in his father’s political career which began in San Juan where he reigned as mayor for decades before becoming senator, vice president and finally president of the republic.