Erap endorses Bongbong for VP

MANILA, Philippines - In what appeared to be a cue that he may run again for president in 2016, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada endorsed yesterday the vice presidential bid of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Estrada, guest speaker during the proclamation of Marcos as a vice presidential candidate, said he is giving his full support because of the lawmaker’s long experience as a local government chief executive.

Marcos served as vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte before he became a congressman and a senator.

“The most handsome, intelligent and young senator. I did not have any second thoughts and I didn’t find it difficult to decide and do this,” Estrada said.

Describing Marcos as very qualified, hardworking and intelligent, Estrada asked his constituents in Manila to give Marcos the opportunity to prove his worth and work as a vice president of the country.

Estrada also credited the Marcoses for helping him when he was still San Juan mayor and the former first lady Imelda Marcos, the senator’s mother, for the distribution of 157 hectares of land to 27,000 families in Tondo, Manila in 1977.

“In the name of the Manileños, we thanked you (Mrs. Marcos) for your big help to Manila. You also established the Bliss projects, which benefited thousands of homeless in Manila. Manileños, let’s pay our debt of gratitude to Sen. Bongbong Marcos by voting for him for vice president in 2016. Manileños know how to pay their debt of gratitude,” Estrada said.

Marcos, who addressed Estrada as President-Mayor, said he decided to hold his proclamation as a vice presidential candidate in honor of Filipino heroes Gen. Antonio Luna, Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio and Jose Rizal.

“I was inspired when I watched the movie of Gen. Luna, that is why I decided to hold my proclamation as vice presidential candidate here in Gen. Luna Street…We are not yet fully freed. The election in May is only the start of the fight against poverty. Let us not be swayed by politicking. Judge the candidates through their programs,” he said.

Marcos cited the presence of criminal syndicates, drug lords, gambling lords and police protectors as among the problems the country faces.

He also lambasted the Aquino administration for having inept and corrupt officials in the agency that is operating the Metro Rail Transport (MRT).

“The parents leave their houses while their children are still asleep and they return to their homes when their children are already asleep. They are suffering daily because of the inefficient MRT. We have an MRT, but it is malfunctioning. The reason is that the officials in MRT are corrupt and they lack knowledge,” Marcos said.

Marcos also said that graft and corruption have been rampant in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) where smuggling thrives.

“Trillions of pesos were lost for four years because of smuggling. We know the smugglers, but why are they playing blind? How much is the reason? Our country has been made a dumping ground of foreign country’s waste. The garbage was dumped in Clark and Pampanga. How much is the reason? There is also rice smuggling. How much again is the reason? Smuggling continues. There is also no water for irrigation. 130,000 houses are needed in the areas destroyed by Yolanda, but only 10,000 housing units are so far constructed. Where are the billions of donations from foreign countries? In Zamboanga, the victims of the encounter between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are still in temporary shelters,” Marcos said.

Marcos also recalled the death of 44 commandos of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Until now, justice has not been served,” Marcos said.

Marcos said for his 30 years in public service, he has seen the suffering of the people, that is why he is accepting the challenge and he is running for vice president in 2016.

“Why one must die for lack of money to buy medicine and for lack of doctors to treat them? We did not place them in their high posts to see to their personal interests and to destroy their enemies while their allies are enjoying. If you are an ally, you are good. If you are an enemy, you are done,” Marcos said.

“We are all Filipinos. No one will love us, except our fellow Filipinos,” Marcos said.

Marcos also vowed to return discipline among the Filipino people once he becomes vice president.

“I will lead the revolution in my heart, mind and work. I will not allow anyone to take any part of our country. I will work to return the respect of other countries to us as Filipinos with dignity, humble, god-fearing and respectful to the elders and our parents,” Marcos said.