Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – “God is very forgiving,” former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a television interview Thursday.
Asked if he thinks he is going to heaven after he dies, he said, “Yes. Of course.”
The 77-year-old politician said all people are sinners and that God is merciful.
“So I always pray [for him] to forgive me,” he said during ANC’s Headstart with Karen Davila.
Estrada has had a controversial political career—from being a well-loved actor and candidate of the masses to being impeached and convicted for plunder. He later saw vindication after winning the coveted Manila mayoral seat.
Last hurrah
Throughout the interview, Estrada called his stint as mayor of Manila his “last hurrah.”
He said he will no longer run as president, especially since he is rooting for Vice President Jejomar Binay whom he called “unbeatable.”
Jokingly, he said he will only run if Binay becomes a candidate of the administration.
Asked if he is still “macho” or a ladies’ man, Estrada said he has “mellowed.”
“It’s a thing of the past already. I am more devoted now on my job as a mayor. Because as I’ve said this is my last hurrah,” he explained.
For now, he is thankful that many investors are interested in Manila. Estrada said the city government is focusing on addressing high poverty and unemployment rates.
The infamous debts of the city government are also being paid “little by little,” he said.
Singled out
But Estrada’s worries are still not over, especially with his son Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada facing another set of plunder raps for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.
He insisted that his son did nothing wrong and that cases could have been set up by the administration in a bid to blame the senators for the channeling of public funds to bogus non-government organizations.
“He’s still young. Once he gets by these problems, he can still go back,” he said of his son.
In addition to dampening his son’s political career, the controversy has also further drove a wedge between the two senator siblings – Jinggoy Estrada and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
Estrada admitted that his younger son signed the Senate Blue Ribbon report against Jinggoy “with reservations.”
But he thinks the two will still be able to make peace one day.
Another family member now facing charges is Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito who was unseated as Laguna governor for overspending during the last elections.
Estrada, claiming that his nephew was being singled out, said that “if not 100 percent of politicians, at least 90 percent…of politicians overspend.”
Estrada called current election laws “antiquated” since the spending cap of P3 per voter for local candidates is no longer appropriate.
He said he still wants to believe that there is no such thing as selective justice under President Benigno Aquino III’s watch but the emphasis on the cases of the three opposition senators has led him to think otherwise.
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