Manila mayoral post Erap’s ‘last hurrah’

MANILA, Philippines - Amid speculation that he will run for the country’s top post in 2016, former President Joseph Estrada said yesterday that his position as Manila mayor is the last government post he will hold.

Estrada told radio station dzRH that his announcement would dispel rumors that he will run for President in the 2016 elections. He said he sees no possibility that he would run again for the presidency.

“The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is fully supporting Vice President (Jejomar) Binay in his 2016 presidential bid,” Estrada said.

Estrada said Binay is “my presidential candidate in 2016. This is my last hurrah.”

Estrada said that he had served the country well after having been mayor of San Juan, a senator, a vice president, a president, and now as mayor of Manila.

He ran for President with Binay as his running mate in the 2010 polls.

Binay won against Manuel Roxas II while Estrada lost to now President Aquino.