Bet admits he picked Erap to avail of PMP machinery

CEBU, Philippines - Mayoralty candidate Crisologo Saavedra said the people should give deposed president Joseph “Erap” Estrada another chance to prove that he is worthy to become president.

But he also admitted he only supports the bid of Estrada so he can use the political machinery of the candidate’s party, the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Saavedra, well-known to the public to be a whistle-blower against corruption in the government, drew questions after he allied himself with Estrada, who was been convicted of plunder, although the latter was released after he was granted amnesty by President Arroyo.

When he was pressed by The FREEMAN why he decided to become an Erap ally, Saavedra admitted that he just wanted to use the political machinery of the former president because the latter has 100,000 card-bearing PMP members in Cebu City who may also vote for him as mayor.

Saavedra, who had filed multiple graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against some government officials in Cebu City and nearby cities for allegedly involved in corruption cases, claimed that he can improve the city if he will become mayor.

Overall he plans to get rid of corruption.

One of his plans to discourage the City Hall employees from committing graft and corruption is to work for the increase of their salaries and to be strict against those who commit illegal activities.

Saavedra also agreed that the South Road Properties can be of great help to the city because it can provide Cebu City billions of pesos out of the sales of its more than 200 hectares of reclaimed land.

Saavedra said if he will become mayor, he will require the existing investors like the Filinvest Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings Corp. to prioritize the city residents in hiring their employees as one way to help solve the unemployment problem of Cebu City.

Saavedra also wants to stop the towing of illegally-parked vehicles saying he believes that the towing of vehicles is being made into a business by some persons who have connections to the government.

Saavedra also said he wants the Cebu provincial government to move out of the city and make their own building as he plans to convert the Capitol building into a museum. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP      (FREEMAN NEWS)