Estrada’s pal renames Davao hotel

DAVAO CITY — If he visits this city, ousted President Joseph Estrada will be surprised to find his favorite hotel sporting a new name.

Hotel and mall magnate Eddie Gaisano, a known friend of Estrada, however, said the change of name from Mercure Grand Hotel to Grand Regal Hotel Davao, which he owns, was due to a new management firm overseeing the hotel’s operations.

"I am not changing the name of my hotel because Estrada is no longer in power," he said, adding that Mercure Grand Hotel was not a "crony hotel" because he was not an Estrada crony.

"My hotel was built even before Estrada became president. It was already constructed even during the time of President Ramos. So how can that be a crony hotel," he said. — Edith Regalado