WINNING TANDEM: Estrada and Lacuna EDWIN BACASMAS
A SLIM margin of just under 3,000 votes gave Manileños another three years under Joseph “Erap’’ Estrada, who was proclaimed winner in the mayoral race Tuesday afternoon.
The releectionist Estrada won by just 2,685 votes over closest rival, former Mayor Alfredo Lim, whom he also beat in the 2013 elections by a larger margin of 33,409 votes.
In an interview after his proclamation at Rizal Memorial Stadium, Estrada thanked Manileños for giving him another mandate and “another opportunity to serve.”
“In unity, there is strength. Now that we will be working together again in the next few years, we will be able to provide [Manileños] with more programs and services,” he added.
The 79-year-old former President garnered 283,149 votes compared to 280,464 votes for Lim, 86. Fifth District Rep. Amado Bagatsing, the third major contender in a field of 11 candidates for mayor, got 167,829 votes.
Estrada’s running mate, Honey Lacuna, was also proclaimed winner in the vice mayoral race, with 262,717 votes against 216,334 votes for Ali Atienza.
Bagatsing conceded defeat even before the poll results were finalized by the City Board of Canvassers (CBOC). “I congratulate [Estrada]. May the city regain its lost glory and grandeur as the Pearl of the Orient Seas under your incoming administration,” he said. “To all my political leaders, sympathizers, supporters and followers, I thank you all for the sacrifices and help you have given me all this time.”
Bagatsing arrived at the stadium Tuesday afternoon for his daughter, Cristal Bagatsing, who won the congressional race to get the House seat her father is vacating.
The results were announced by CBOC after 17 hours of canvassing. The transmission of data was slowed down by weak Internet signals, forcing election inspectors to transport vote-counting machines from their precincts to the canvassing site so that the SD (secure digital) cards could be manually retrieved.
As his supporters chanted “Erap pa more!” Estrada was joined in the celebration by his children Jake, Jerika and Sen. JV Ejercito.
