Lim concedes, wishes Estrada ‘all the best’

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday conceded to former President Joseph Estrada in Manila’s mayoral race and wished the new mayor “all the best.”

In a press conference at the city hall, Lim said he respected Estrada’s proclamation by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the rightful winner in last Monday’s elections.

“The Comelec on Tuesday proclaimed the election of President Erap Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Domagoso (more popularly known as Isko Moreno),” Lim said. “We respect and acknowledge their proclamation and wish them all the best. We would like to thank our relatives, friends, and the Manileños for their support, trust, and confidence in us. Thank you and God bless us all.”

Lim did not entertain questions from the media after reading his statement as he immediately left the Bulwagan Hall and proceeded to his office.

His chief of staff Ric de Guzman could not confirm if Lim’s statement was his way of conceding to the 76-year-old Estrada.

 But De Guzman assured the residents of Manila that they would continue working for them.

“Even if the election is over, we would continue to work. Manileños have problems and we have to extend assistance,” he said.

 De Guzman said they would continue to provide free medical services to poor patients in the city-run hospitals.

 He also expressed hope the incoming city officials would continue Lim’s program of offering free medical services to the people.

Lim’s running mate, outgoing sixth district Councilor Lou Veloso, congratulated Estrada and Moreno.

 He is hopeful that Estrada and Moreno would fulfill their promise of giving hope to the poor.

Veloso said he is proud to have teamed up with Lim. He said he witnessed Lim’s efforts to provide public service when they embarked on a house-to-house campaign.

 Estrada garnered 342,254 votes while Lim got 307,291. Moreno received 376,319 votes as against Veloso’s 225,238 votes.

 Manila has around 900,000 registered voters.

Conciliatory hand

Estrada on Tuesday extended a conciliatory hand to Lim as he asked the people of Manila to support him.

“Our Lord’s prayer has not changed. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. All my life I have taken this to heart.  The political wounds have slowly healed.  I have forgiven my political detractors, including Mayor Lim,” he said.

The former president said he had forgiven Lim for his “below-the-belt” attacks against him during the campaign period.

“I am a very forgiving man. But he doesn’t need to see me personally,” he said. “I have nothing against him. But his debts to the people and the city government are a different matter. He has to face that. He has to apologize to the people and not to me.”

  In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said Lim’s admission of defeat is “moot and academic.”

“I have been proclaimed as the rightful winner by the Comelec. It doesn’t matter anymore whether he concedes or not,” he added.

Estrada’s media officer Ike Gutierrez said the former president prayed before meeting the media as the new mayor of Manila.

“I thank the Good Lord.  I believe He still has a mission for me. . . to continue serving the poor.  I accept the challenge with a clean and determined heart ,” Gutierrez quoted Estrada as saying.

For his part, Moreno said he does not feel any hatred against his opponents.

“I entertain no hatred or rancour.  It has been a bitter and wounding political fight but that’s part of democracy.  I offer my hand of reconciliation to our political adversaries.  Let us start on a clean slate so that we can build the Manila we all want,” Moreno said.

Peace and order

The new Manila mayor said improving peace and order in the city, which was neglected during Lim’s administration, will be one of his priorities.

“If there is no peace and order, there will be no economic progress. I want to make Manila as the country’s financial center. Like what I said in Tagalog: kailanman, hindi uunlad ang bayan, lungsod, probinsiya at ang bansa kung walang kapayapaan sa Pilipinas. (No municipality, city or province will progress if there is no peace and order in the Philippines),” Estrada said.

He added Lim failed to solve the problems of kidnapping, car theft and robberies.

PCOS snatching foiled

Meanwhile, members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) helped foil reported attempts to snatch precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and vote-buying in at least three precincts in Tondo’s district one, Gutierrez said yesterday.

He said as early as 9 a.m. on election day, he received reports from their poll watchers that INC voters prevented the snatching of PCOS machines at the Lakandula High School and Burgos Elementary School in Tondo.

“The incidents were reported to the police and the Comelec,” he said.