San Juan opposition vows to end Estrada rule

"End the Estrada dynasty."

This was the "battlecry" of the United Opposition of San Juan saying that the coming May 14 elections would gauge the political "strength" of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

Sporting yellow T-shirts, the opposition ticket led by reelectionist Rep. Jose Mari Gonzales, presented themselves to their hundreds of supporters as the genuine "alternative" to decades of Estrada’s rule.

"The people of San Juan are tired of the Estrada rule. They will prove that in the coming elections," said the opposition mayoral candidate, Adolfo Sto. Domingo.

Domingo cited the fact that thousands of San Juan residents joined EDSA People Power 2, seeking the ouster of deposed President Estrada.

Gonzales, an independent, seeks re-election against Estrada’s old pal and former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora.

Sto. Domingo’s running mate, Baby San Pascual, claimed San Juan would serve as a "proving ground" of the former president’s popularity.

Sto. Domingo will face Estrada’s son, Joseph Victor Ejercito. San Pascual raised fears that if Ejercito wins, his father would "meddle" in the day-to-day affairs of the municipality.

The United Opposition is confident that their lineup would give the Estradas "a run for their money."

"We will give them a good fight. We are out to regain political influence in the town," said Sto. Domingo, the town mayor from 1988 to 1992. He lost to his then vice mayor and now incumbent Mayor Jinggoy Estrada in the 1992 elections.

Meanwhile, Gonzales’ wife, Charito, was among those seeking a council seat in the town’s second district.

Rep. Gonzales said he has the full backing of the majority of the town’s electorate because of his noteworthy performance as a neophyte congressman.