Former President Joseph Estrada dared yesterday Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to answer charges of alleged human rights violations.
Estrada told The STAR that Lim’s shady human rights record was among the reasons why the leadership of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) decided to remove Lim as party president.
Estrada said Lim does not deserve to serve as PMP president because of his human rights violations.
He cited the incident where Lim alleged bodily carried Manila Councilor Dennis Alcorez, Estrada’s staunch political ally, in connection with the Manila city government’s takeover of Alcorez’s slaughterhouse.
Lim apparently ignored Estrada’s reported intervention in the case of the Alcorez-owned Dealco Co., which operates the Vitas slaughterhouse in Tondo, Manila.
City officials claimed that city hall took over the operations of the slaughterhouse from Dealco after the company violated its contract.
“If he (Lim) could do that to a councilor, what more to the people who belong to the poor masses. He does not know how to respect human rights and he does not deserve to be president of the PMP because the PMP is for the poor masses,” Estrada said.
Estrada said Lim should first learn the basics of respecting human rights.
“Let him (Lim) answer for his human rights records first. Can he represent the poor when he himself does not respect human rights? The PMP is for the masses and he has no business leading the party for the masses,” Estrada said.
Estrada earlier announced that he has taken over the PMP’s presidency replacing Lim because he has been too busy.
He said Lim is a political butterfly and one of those who turned his back on him in 2001.
“He is like a political butterfly. During the People Power II, he said he would just call the Philippine National Police to look at the situation at EDSA. But after a few hours, I learned that he is already on stage at the EDSA Shrine,” Estrada said.
Estrada said Lim’s ouster as PMP president is also part of the party’s reorganization and overhauling in preparation for the 2010 presidential elections.
“We are strengthening the party all over the country. We wanted to be prepared when we face the administration in 2010,” Estrada said.
Aside from the Vitas slaughterhouse case, a failed garbage contract also affected Lim’s relationship with Estrada.
Sources of The STAR claimed that the relations of Estrada and Lim turned sour when Lim allegedly refused to accommodate the garbage collection contract of one of Estrada’s sons.
Meanwhile, Lim rejected offers from the Liberal Party and other political parties to join them.
Lim’s media relations office said the mayor will remain an independent opposition leader.
Lim, however, refused to answer questions regarding his resignation as PMP president.
In a letter sent by Lim to Estrada, dated Aug. 20, the Manila mayor cited no reason for his resignation.
“With due respect, consistent with your recent public pronouncement that I have resigned from the PMP, I am therefore hereby tendering my irrevocable resignation from the said party retroactive from the date of your announcement,” said Lim.
“I am taking this opportunity to express my deep appreciation and gratitude for the personal concern and assistance you extended me, and to the privileges enjoyed by me while I was an active member of the PMP. Be assured, that I am and will always be an oppositionist. With my warmest regards and best wishes,” Lim told Estrada.
The letter of resignation was only drafted last Wednesday morning when he learned that Estrada had fired him as party president. With Non Alquitran, Sandy Araneta