Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, heir to the city mayoralty post, is likely to get former President Joseph Estrada’s endorsement in the city’s mayoralty race in 2010, a reliable source told The STAR yesterday.
Bautista, who joined Estrada in the continuation of his “Lakbay Pasasalamat” in Quezon City yesterday, has virtually turned the event into an early campaign sortie alternating Estrada in throwing candies to enthusiastic city residents during the motorcade of Estrada’s entourage from the public market in Batasan road fronting the Sandiganbayan which tried and convicted Estrada for plunder all the way to the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue.
The source said that Quezon City second district Rep. Annie Rosa Susano, who is reportedly determined to throw her hat in the city’s mayoralty race in 2010, is seeking an endorsement from Estrada.
“The president turned down Susano’s request because he preferred Bautista, a son of his fellow movie actor,” the source told The STAR.
In his impromptu address to residents of Quezon City in Litex market, Estrada said Bautista is already ripe for the mayoralty post.
“He has long served as your city’s vice mayor and it is high time for him to become your mayor,” Estrada said.
Estrada reiterated his gratitude to the continuous support that he is getting from the Filipino masses.
“I cannot find the right words to express my gratitude for your continuous support to me even when I was in jail. You voted for my wife, Dr. Loi and my son, Jinggoy to the Senate. I know that you voted for them because of me. Erap will die, but he cannot repay you for your kindness to me,” Estrada said.
Estrada’s “Lakbay Pasasalamat” also included a medical mission held at a portion of Commonwealth market.
He is tentatively scheduled to leave for Tacloban to attend another speaking engagement.