Lim: Erap camp staged rock-throwing incident

MANILA, Philippines – Re-electionist Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim denied accusations that he was behind the hurling of rocks and bottles during a campaign sortie of former President Joseph Estrada, his rival in the local polls.

Lim’s camp believes the incident was staged calling it a case of “bato me (self-initiated rock-throwing).”

“Ano ang susunod nilang ibibintang sa akin, pagpatay kay Dr. Jose Rizal (What’s next? They will blame Dr. Jose Rizal’s death on me)?” Lim said in a statement.

Lim’s former political ally and Estrada’s running mate, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno said, “Eh baka nga, naabutan niya si Jose Rizal (Probably. He lived during Jose Rizal’s time).”

“For Mayor Lim to say that the stone-and bottle-throwing incident was staged by us is an insult to me, my partymates, and the people of Manila. Is he now also saying that the people of Manila are also staging their own crimes against themselves?” Estrada said. 

“Lim’s statement only showed that the crime situation has so much deteriorated and he can’t control it anymore despite his experience as a former interior secretary and NBI director,” he added.

Lim’s campaign manager Ric de Guzman said Estrada’s camp was “desperate” that Lim was leading in surveys from independent parties. He also said that their political rivals tend to exaggerate the number of people attending their sorties.

“ ‘Yan ang sinasabi ko, puro kasinungalingan. Kami, expected naming lalala pa ang mga press release nila habang papalapit ang eleksyon (That’s what I’m saying. They all propagate lies. We expect that things will be worse in their upcoming press releases as election day nears),” De Guzman said. – Rappler.com