SEN. Alfredo Lim said former President Joseph
Estrada has agreed to endorse his and columnist Angelito
Banayo’s candidacy for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of
Manila.
Lim and Banayo are running under the Genuine
Opposition.
Lim said Estrada made the decision based on
the results of a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by his
own nephew Ricky de Guzman.
Lim said he was "way, way ahead"of the other
aspirants in the survey.
Lim served as Manila mayor from 1992 to 1998
after defeating Mel Lopez. He was also a former policeman,
director of the National Bureau of Investigation and secretary
of the Interior and Local Government in 2000-2001.
His running mate Banayo was a former lawyer
of Estrada’s. Estrada was reportedly grooming Banayo to run for
Congress in Manila’s 5th district before Lim named him as his
running mate early last month.
Lim will be going up against Ali Atienza, son of incumbent
mayor Lito Atienza; incumbent vice-mayor Danny Lacuna, Rep.
Rodolfo Bacani and councilor Joey Hizon. Banayo will contest the
vice mayoral seat with councilors Don Bagatsing, Isko Moreno and
Cita Astals, and evangelist and former councilor Grepor Belgica.
– Gerard Anthony M. Naval
