Erap to rivals: Focus on issues, not lies

MANILA, Philippines – Re-electionist Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada urged his opponents in the mayoral race to focus on legitimate issues and stop engaging in mudslinging.

“I have no other New Year’s message to them. I only wish that there will be a fair fight. Just be fair. No deceptions and lies. If they have issues to raise, it must be true. But they are just telling lies,” Estrada said during the New Year’s Eve countdown at Rajah Sulayman Park along Roxas Boulevard.

He was apparently referring to mayoral bet Amado Bagatsing and his running mate, Ali Atienza, who are claiming that the city government’s joint venture for the rehabilitation of public markets owned by the city government is meant to lead to their privatization.

Estrada has strongly denied he is privatizing the city’s public markets.        

“No. It is not privatization. It is a joint venture to make the public markets clean and competitive with their rivals in the private sector,” he said.