Manila officials to Trillanes: We’ll give you zero votes

MANILA, Philippines – Local officials in Manila are threatening to upset Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s political plans in 2016 by making sure he doesn’t get a single vote in the city.

This was after the former mutineer called Senator Jinggoy Estrada “shameless” for realigning his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to Manila, where his father, former President Joseph Estrada, is the new mayor.

As the younger Estrada is being criticized for supposedly circumventing the Supreme Court ruling striking down the PDAF, the city council on Tuesday, January 14, passed a resolution in support of Senator Estrada’s allocation of P100 million of his pork barrel to the city.

During their regular session presided by Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, the council unanimously approved a “Resolution expressing full support to the allocation of the fund by Senator Jinggoy Estrada for the people of Manila in the amount of P100 million to be utilized for the delivery of basic services and facilities.”

The resolution – authored by councilors Joel Chua, Ernesto Isip Jr, and Marlon Lacson – said the money from Senator Estrada’s pork barrel would not be handed over to his father right away, but would go through checks and balances.

The P100 million, according to the city council, was a promise made by the younger Estrada to Manileños during his campaign for the Senate – not a promise to his father, the incumbent mayor.

Senator Estrada, in earlier interviews, said he had chosen Manila and two other cities based on needs expressed by local chief executives themselves, and would be scrutinized by the city council. 

“The allocated amount is still subject to the Commission of Audit (COA) rules and regulations, just like any other government funds; hence, it will not be utilized for personal gain,” read the resolution.

Follow Jinggoy’s lead

Chua, who co-authored the resolution, said there was nothing wrong with Estrada allocating P100 million to his father’s city. “Kultura na ito ng Pilipino. Normal lamang na una niyang tulungan ang lugar ng iyong ama na nakikita na niyang nahihirapan?” said Chua. (It’s part of our culture. It’s normal for a son to first help his father, who is having a hard time run the city.)

The councilor also alluded to Trillanes, saying, unlike “other senators” who gave out promises but never delivered, Estrada followed through.

“Bakit po hindi sila sumunod sa yapak ni Senador Jinggoy at magbigay sila ng pondo para sa Manila?” he added. (Why don’t they follow the steps of Senator Jinggoy and give funds to Manila?)

Moreno also threatened the political prospects of the “former soldier turned senator,” at least in the city of Manila. “In 2016, makakakuha siya ng zero votes sa Manila. May araw ng pagtutuos,” the vice mayor said (In 2016, he will get zero votes in Manila. Justice will come one day.)

The city council said the amount would be used to ease the effects of the city’s debt. According to the local government, the city has a P3.5-billion budget deficit and P613 million in unpaid power bills left behind by the former mayor. The P100 million would be used to help maintain “6 hospitals, 59 health centers, 12 lying-in clinics, one university, and one college.”

Manila’s councilors also urged other senators to follow Estrada’s move and allocate part of their PDAF “to help [Manila] recover from the financial deficit.” – Rappler.com