Lakas exec promises 600,000 votes for Erap in QC
SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV
04/18/2010 | 09:37 PM
On the eve of his 73rd birthday, former President Joseph “Erap" Estrada gained the support of an incumbent lawmaker from the administration party who promised to bring in 600,000 votes for him.
Quezon City Rep. Mary Ann Susano (2nd district) announced her transfer to the Estrada camp Sunday at a press briefing in the former president’s home in Greenhills, San Juan. She was the latest member to bolt the beleaguered administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
“The fact that I'm here says everything. Lakas knows everything I do. All I know is that I serve the people," said Susano, a mayoralty candidate in Quezon City who is running against Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor in the May 10 polls.
Susano said her constituents' “love" for Estrada prompted her to shift her allegiance to the deposed leader. “The people of Quezon City love Erap," she said, adding that she would help deliver almost 600,000 votes for Estrada.
Susano was the chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in vote-rich Quezon City.
Estrada, whose bid for re-election has been the subject of legal debates, said he was elated by Susano’s move, adding that he considered it as a birthday gift.
“We welcome [Susano] with open arms. We are very happy that the next mayor of Quezon City listened to the people, especially the masses. We thank the next mayor of Quezon City for joining the call of the people," he said.
GMANews.TV is still trying to reach Lakas-Kampi-CMD, which is fielding former Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro as its presidential bet, for comment as of posting time.
Before Susano, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit" Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri, Albay Gov. Jose Salceda, and several local officials in Mindanao had already abandoned Lakas-Kampi-CMD in favor of other political groups.
Estrada, who was convicted of plunder in 2007 but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is running under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) banner. – KBK, GMANews.TV
Quezon City Rep. Mary Ann Susano (2nd district) announced her transfer to the Estrada camp Sunday at a press briefing in the former president’s home in Greenhills, San Juan. She was the latest member to bolt the beleaguered administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
“The fact that I'm here says everything. Lakas knows everything I do. All I know is that I serve the people," said Susano, a mayoralty candidate in Quezon City who is running against Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and former presidential chief of staff Mike Defensor in the May 10 polls.
Susano said her constituents' “love" for Estrada prompted her to shift her allegiance to the deposed leader. “The people of Quezon City love Erap," she said, adding that she would help deliver almost 600,000 votes for Estrada.
Susano was the chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD in vote-rich Quezon City.
Estrada, whose bid for re-election has been the subject of legal debates, said he was elated by Susano’s move, adding that he considered it as a birthday gift.
“We welcome [Susano] with open arms. We are very happy that the next mayor of Quezon City listened to the people, especially the masses. We thank the next mayor of Quezon City for joining the call of the people," he said.
GMANews.TV is still trying to reach Lakas-Kampi-CMD, which is fielding former Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro as its presidential bet, for comment as of posting time.
Before Susano, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit" Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri, Albay Gov. Jose Salceda, and several local officials in Mindanao had already abandoned Lakas-Kampi-CMD in favor of other political groups.
Estrada, who was convicted of plunder in 2007 but was later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is running under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) banner. – KBK, GMANews.TV
