Erap, Lim bury hatchet

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and his political rival, former mayor Alfredo Lim, have reconciled.

In an interview with The STAR, Estrada said the reconciliation happened by accident several weeks ago.     

“I was in a meeting in a place near the Manila Hotel when I saw  Lim at the other table. I immediately approached him and shook hands with him.? We had a brief chat and that’s it,” Estrada said without elaborating.

Estrada defeated Lim in the 2013 and 2016 mayoral races.

In 2016, their debate went viral on social media after their attacks became personal.

“I am ready to extend a hand of reconciliation to all. I already reconciled with Mayor Lim,” Estrada said.

Lim, who served as mayor of Manila for 12 years before returning to private life, has yet to issue a statement.

He ran under the Liberal Party and Estrada under his own Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

Lim’s running mate in the 2013 polls was former city councilor Ali Atienza, son of former mayor and now Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza.

During the 2016 campaign, Lim focused on what he described as “gargantuan” real property taxes imposed by Estrada after the latter increased tax rates by 300 percent.

Estrada said the tax hike helped the bankrupt city government recover.

After he took his oath on June 30, 2016, Estrada hinted that he might create a body to investigate Lim. 

?Estrada said Lim, who served as his interior secretary during his presidency, must explain why the city became bankrupt.?  

Lim filed several petitions to disqualify Estrada as mayor before the Commission on Elections and the Supreme Court.

The election protests were all dismissed.