Erap completes political comeback as new mayor of Manila

(Updated 5:39 p.m.) Manila says hello to "Asiong Salonga," and goodbye to "Dirty Harry."

Former President Joseph Estrada was proclaimed the mayor-elect of Manila City on Tuesday afternoon after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided to lower the threshold of votes needed to proclaim a winner.

It marks the return to office of one of the country's most popular politicians. Estrada had been convicted of plunder in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He came in second to Noynoy Aquino in the 2010 presidential race.

This will be his first elective position since he was ousted in 2001. Estrada had also been the long-time mayor in San Juan until he was replaced in 1986, after the People Power Revolt that toppled the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and swept President Corazon Aquino to power.

Later in the afternoon, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Aquino and Estrada are in "good terms" despite the President's endorsement of Lim during the campaign.

Lower threshold of votes for victory

The total number of votes counted in Manila's local elections was 96 percent when Comelec handed down its decision to lower the threshold of votes for victory.

The partial and unofficial tally showed Estrada of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) with 288,058 votes while incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim of the Liberal Party (LP) had 257,631 as of posting time.

Lim was running for his third term as Manila mayor.

The total number of registered voters in Manila is around 900,000. Monday's polls yielded more or less 650,000 votes.

The colorful mayoralty contenders are known by the tags "Asiong Salonga" for Estrada, and "Dirty Harry" for Lim.

Estrada played the lead role in the movie "Asiong Salonga" about a 1950s Filipino mob boss.

On the other hand, Lim is known for his "cop exploits," similar to "Dirty Harry," the lead character in the Hollywood movie starring Clint Eastwood, during his stint as long-time chief of police in Manila.

In a speech after being proclaimed, Estrada said, "Ibabalik natin ang sigla ng Maynila."

He said he plans to change Manila's image as the Philippine city with the highest crime rate and highest joblessness rate.

Early celebration

The Manila mayoral race was considered to be among the tightest this year, but this did not prevent Estrada from celebrating in advance.

On the eve of his proclamation, Estrada's camp released a statement referring to him as the mayor-elect of Manila.

“I thank the great people of Manila for putting a true son of Manila at the helm of the Philippine capital city,” Estrada said in the statement.

“Dear Manileños, I will not fail you. I was born in Manila, and I will die working to bring back the glory and pride to Manila,” he continued.

Estrada vowed to “work harder than I have ever done in my past loftier political positions” and asked his opponents and the people of Manila to "finally leave politics behind" to put "Manila back to the pedestal of being once one of the greatest cities of the world, the Paris of Asia."

Also a winner

Meanwhile, Estrada's running mate Isko Moreno from UNA was also proclaimed the vice mayor-elect of Manila.

The partial and unofficial tally showed Moreno enjoying a landslide victory of over 100,000 votes against LP's Lou Veloso, Lim's runnning mate.