Even without Jinggoy, San Juan running smoothly, says exec

Despite the arrest of San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada, his municipal government is working smoothly, the town’s administrator, Francis Yenko, said.

"It’s business as usual. Mayor Jinggoy had been away before and we treat his arrest as if he were on a leave of absence," said Yenko in an interview.

Estrada, who is now on his third and last term, had been mayor of San Juan for the past nine years.

Yenko said the San Juan municipal government is working like clockwork after Mayor Estrada’s arrest because, "In all these years, we have perfected the system. It’s just like a routine assignment and we are functioning smoothly," he said.

Anticipating his arrest, Yenko said, Mayor Estrada had instructed and briefed Vice Mayor Philip Cesar on April 26 to take charge of the day-to-day functions of the municipal government.

Mayor Estrada would have backed his loyal ally for the town’s mayoralty race in the coming May 14 elections, but Cesar backed out at the last minute after then President Joseph Estrada pushed for the candidacy of his son, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito. JV is the son of Estrada by actress Guia Gomez.

Cesar, who is also on his third and last term, is acting mayor until the next town top official is elected.

Mayor Estrada and his father were arrested Wednesday last week in their house at 1 Polk St., North Greenhills Subdivision, after the Sandiganbyan issued their arrest warrant for plunder.

They are scheduled for transfer to a more convenient jail in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, sources said.