Thrilla in Manila: Lim, Bagatsing throw jabs at no-show Estrada

THRILLING ONLY FOR TWO Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing (seated onstage, with microphone) and former mayor Alfredo Lim (right) discuss their platforms during Wednesday’s “debate” at the UP-PGH Science Hall. It was supposed to feature the three main contenders for the city’s top post, but reelectionist Mayor Joseph Estrada did not attend. RICHARD REYES

It could have been billed as “The Anti-Erap Show.”

Taking advantage of the absence of reelectionist Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, his two main rivals—Rep. Amado Bagatsing and former Mayor Alfredo Lim—used a student forum on Wednesday to take turns hurling tirades at the current City Hall occupant.

“It would have been OK if all three of us were present. Kaso yung hindi pa dumating yung maraming kasalanan (Sadly, the one who didn’t show up is the one with the most sins),” Bagatsing said in his opening statement at the “Thrilla in UP Manila Round 2.”

Bagatsing, who said he decided to run in the May 9 polls because his constituents clamored for change after experiencing Lim and Estrada’s style governance, found “most oppressive” Estrada’s decisions to raise local taxes, charge fees for some public services and “privatize” public markets.

“[Estrada] even privatized the Lacson underpass in Quiapo which should be beyond the commerce of man,” said Bagatsing. “If elected, I will cancel [that contract].”

“I think I bring more excitement [to the elections] than my opponents. We can let the two of them rest,” said the 68-year-old Bagatsing. Lim is 86 and Estrada, 78.

In his turn to speak before a crowd of around 250, Lim sought to counter the “lies” spread by Estrada after unseating him in 2013. “Our parents taught us not to lie because a liar is a thief’s sibling. What is this lie I am referring to? That I supposedly left Manila bankrupt.”

Lim then brought out a document, “a certification from city treasurer in 2013,” showing that City Hall had P1.5 billion in savings when he left office.

Lim also shot back at detractors—“not Rep. Bagatsing, but the others”—who had noted his supposedly deteriorating health. He challenged the doctors at Philippine General, whose auditorium was used for the forum, to check him for any illness.

Asked about the graft complaint filed by a Tondo resident against him in the Office of the Ombudsman earlier that day, Lim said “whoever is behind the complaint should not violate the Ninth Commandment (You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor).”

“I’ve been out of City Hall for two years and nine months, why are they filing the case just now? It’s just a form of harassment. The timing is suspicious since elections are coming up,” he later said in an interview.

Round 1 of “Thrilla” was between Estrada and Lim in 2013. A day before Wednesday’s forum, City Hall media bureau chief Diego Cagahastian said Estrada could not make it for he had to be in San Andres to hand out tablet computers to teachers.

Organizers from the Good Neighbors’ Initiative (GNI) were still hoping at the last minute that Estrada would show up since they sent him the invitation a month before the event.

GNI is a civic group made up of representatives from government offices, schools, churches, commercial establishments, private institutions and barangays located in Manila’s Ermita-Malate area. It was also the organizer of the 2013 forum.