Estrada now Manila traffic czar after Isko Moreno quits

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada took over on Monday as the city’s traffic czar after Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced that he was giving up the post.

“I don’t want the post to be tainted by politics. I am doing this so that I will not be accused of taking advantage of my position when I campaign should I run,” Domagoso said, without confirming reports he would be running for senator in next year’s elections.

Estrada, however, was not as coy. Hours after Domagoso announced his resignation as traffic czar, Estrada confirmed the reports about his plans to run for higher office.

“He will run for senator. I will support him all the way,” Estrada said, praising his erstwhile running mate as his “good” partner in governing the city.

Domagoso, who served as traffic czar for two years and three months, said he was able to make the traffic situation in the city “manageable and tolerable.”

He also thanked Estrada for the opportunity, describing the post as the most difficult and challenging task he had ever faced.

He expressed hope that his successor would implement what he started. “Consistency and certainty of enforcement of punishment are keys in effective traffic management,” Domagoso said.

A member of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masa political party, Domagoso is on his last term as vice mayor. He ranked 14th and 15th in the recent Social Weather Station survey of senatorial candidates for next year’s elections.–Jodee A. Agoncillo