Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada leads wreath-laying during Commemoration of the 69th Anniversary of the Historic Battle of Manila at the Freedom Triangle, Manila City Hall, on Monday, Feb.03, 2014. (MNS photo)
(Mabuhay) – Manila Mayor and former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada has come to the defense of his goddaughter Senator Grace Poe amid allegations that she is an alcoholic.
Estrada said the accusations against Poe are just part of the supposed black propaganda against the senator, who is leading voter preference surveys on possible presidential candidates for 2016.
“That’s black propaganda. I’ve seen Grace, I know her since [she was] small. Hindi ganun yon. Social drinking, what’s wrong with that?” Estrada said.
Poe denied allegations that she drinks to excess and is abusive towards household helpers.
“Hindi po ako nambubugbog. Ang konsensya ko po ay malinis. May mga kasama po ako rito. Pwede naman silang kausapin, yung mga dati na… Kung mayroon man silang ilalabas, hindi ko talaga mainitindihan kung bakit nagkaroon ng issue na ganyan, pati sa pag-inom, pati sa pag-rehab,” she said.
According to Poe, who is also facing questions about her citizenship and residency and eligibility to run for higher office, she feels she is already being bullied.
Meanwhile, Estrada has yet to decide whom to support in the 2016 elections, saying he will wait for the platform of governance of all presidential candidates before he will decide whom to endorse.
So far, only two have declared their intention to seek the presidency next year—Vice President Jejomar Binay and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
Binay is a friend of Estrada and his running mate in the 2010 elections. Roxas, meanwhile, is Estrada’s former trade and industry secretary when he was president.
“Mar is a good man, he was one of my former Cabinet members,” said Estrada. “Binay, running mate ko. Kaibigan ko lahat sila.”
The mayor reiterated that he has no plans of running for the country’s top post in 2016, saying he still has so much to do in Manila. (MNS)