Former President Joseph Estrada: Winning in Manila. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines—“Asiong Salonga” outguns “Dirty Harry.”
Former President Joseph Estrada appeared headed to clinch the mayoralty in Manila and complete an astonishing political comeback 12 years after he left Malacañang in disgrace.
In one of the most bitterly fought local contests in Monday’s midterm elections, the 76-year-old Estrada led by around 31,000 votes against the reelectionist Alfredo Lim, 86, a former city police chief who had been elected Manila mayor four times.
Estrada’s running mate Isko Moreno, the incumbent vice mayor who together with over 20 city councilors broke a longtime alliance with Lim last year, also trounced Lim’s running mate, Councilor Lou Veloso.
As of 11:45 p.m. Monday night, the Manila City Board of Canvassers counted 327,592 votes for Estrada and 296,014 votes for Lim.
The partial results covered 92 percent of the votes, according to Manila CBOC chair Jayvee Villagracia.
Moreno got 376,319 votes while Lim’s vice mayoral candidate, Councilor Veloso, received 225,238.
Earlier on Monday, Lim and Estrada traded allegations of cheating.
According to Lim, he has been receiving reports since last week that his supporters were being paid P1,500 to have their right index finger marked with indelible ink so that they would not be able to cast their votes. He said the reverse vote-buying was being done in slum areas like Baseco, Parola and Isla Puting Bato.
“That is why I was telling election officials that even if a voter has indelible ink on his finger, they should check their list to see if he has already cast his vote,” he added.
On the other hand, Lim had this advice to voters who were being offered money: “You did not ask for it so take it. But you should vote for the person who is fit for office. Do not be influenced by the money given to you.”
In an impromptu press conference held at his house on Mangga Street in Sta. Mesa, Estrada announced that his camp had monitored cheating and vote-buying carried out by his rivals.
“We have monitored some anomalies and we are compiling them,” he told reporters.
Estrada, who remained a darling of the crowd, received an enthusiastic welcome when he cast his vote at Padre Burgos Elementary School in Sta. Mesa.
“When I entered the precinct, many were shouting my name. [It was] overwhelming,” he said.
He told the Inquirer that he was more fired up about running for mayor compared to 1998 when he made a bid for the presidency.
“[It was] more exciting. My rival now has more dirty tricks,” he said.
Estrada also said that he was overwhelmed by the support people were showing him despite his ouster from power in 2001.
He added that since he was a dual citizen—a Filipino and senior citizen—he would give priority to these two groups.
“Manila is the nerve center of the Philippines; Malacañang is in Manila and its glory should be restored,” Estrada said.
“I dedicate the last few years of my life to Manila,” he added, reiterating his previous statement that this was his last political race.
Win or lose, 83-year-old Lim also sees retirement in his future.
Lim has also said that this will be his last race as he intends to retire from politics in 2016 to spend more time with his family.—With reports from Camille Lim, Tessa Distor and Catherine Carvajal