Hagit ni Pigon

Eight newly elected Metro Manila local executives, led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, sought former President Joseph Estrada’s release from jail.

In a speech during the thanksgiving hosted by the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) for all their winning mayoral candidates in Metro Manila, Lim said the recently concluded elections, which was dominated by the opposition, is the “judgment of people.”

“The result of the election is the judgment of the people. It is time for President Estrada to be released from jail,” Lim said.

The other local executives from the opposition are Mayors Toby Tiangco of Navotas, Aldrin San Pedro of Muntinlupa, JV Ejercito of San Juan, Wenceslao Trinidad of Pasay and Jejomar Binay of Makati and Vice Mayor Arnold Vicencio of Malabon.

Lim said the opposition must continue the fight of Estrada and the late movie actor Fernando Poe, Jr. to stop the frame-up of opposition leaders on crimes that they did not commit.

“We can stand not to eat, but we will not let them to continuously frame us up on crimes that we did not commit. Our battle cry now is no to injustice, no to oppression, yes to clean, honest and good governance,” Lim said.

For his part, PMP secretary general Horacio Morales said they will pursue the call for Estrada to be released from jail which they dubbed as “Freedom for Erap.”

“That freedom for Estrada was one of the proposals that is now under consideration after it was brought up by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim” Morales said.

Lim also asked the PMP members to invite Fr. Ed Panlilio, who won against the two administration candidates in Pampanga – Mark Lapid and Lilia Pineda – in the gubernatorial race, to join the PMP.

“Something happened in Pampanga. A priest who has no political experience and is hesitant to throw his hat in the political arena, won against two giants. Yung anak ng jueteng at yung anak ng quarry. I hope we can ask Father Panlilio to join us in PMP to be our light in our path,” Lim said.

Morales said the PMP approved a resolution to adopt Panlilio as its member.

“We will adopt him (Panlilio). We would support his program. Eventually, we will ask him through a resolution if he wants to join us, then we will welcome him,” Morales said.  – Jose Rodel Clapano