Singson supports UNA

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines – Gov. Chavit Singson has vowed to support the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in what appeared to be an effort to make up to former president Joseph Estrada, who was ousted in 2001 due to his expose’ on illegal numbers game.

Singson said the mayors of the province would campaign for UNA, which is being led by the former president.

“The mayors are here. You can see their support. Most of them (candidates to be supported) are from UNA. We will only help those who seek our help,” Singson told journalists in a press conference yesterday.

Asked what type of support the Singsons could give to UNA, Vice President Jejomar Binay said: “I will answer that – thousands of votes!”

Ilocos Sur, one of the four provinces in the Ilocos region, has about 400,000 voters.

Singson said he would particularly back the candidacy of Estrada’s son San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, who is also part of the UNA senatorial slate.

He said his relationship with Estrada and his family has been restored.

JV said the reconciliation between Singson and his father started when his grandmother, Doña Mary Ejercito, died in 2009. Singson attended the wake and condoled with the former president.

In 2000, Singson exposed Estrada’s supposed involvement in jueteng, an illegal numbers game, and even called him “the lord of all jueteng lords.”