Erap wants to take oath before Duterte

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, after supporting one of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s rivals, said yesterday he wants the incoming president to swear him into office.

“Congratulations, Mr. President. I am the president before and you were the mayor of Davao. Now, you are the president and I am the mayor of Manila. I want to take my oath of office with you in Malacañang on or before June 30,” Estrada said of his telephone conversation with Duterte Wednesday night.

Estrada founded the United Nationalist Alliance with outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and was expected to support Binay’s bid for the presidency.

In March, Estrada finally announced he was supporting the bid of Sen. Grace Poe, his goddaughter and the only child of his closest friend, the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

His announcement came after months of stalling whether he would support Binay, his political ally, or Poe. It was also at a time when Poe’s ranking in political surveys began to rise.

Estrada’s partner, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, supported the candidacy of former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II.

Estrada said he assured Duterte of his full support.

“I am just a call away. I will always be there for your administration,” he told Duterte.

Estrada said he knew Duterte when the incoming president was still studying law and living in Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan and he was San Juan mayor.

He said since then, he and Duterte – whom he described as a “very courageous man” – became friends.