The gesture of Manila mayor-elect Isko Moreno to pay courtesy meetings to his political opponents outgoing Mayor Joseph Estrada and former Mayor Alfredo Lim a month after the midterm elections is what great leaders do.
Thus said members of the Bagatsing political clan now throwing their support to the incoming chief executive of the capital city.
“The act of reaching out to Erap and Lim is magnanimous and noble. This should serve as a guide to all of us Manileños who love the city to unite and set aside differences for the sake of the city,” said former Manila Councilor Don Bagatsing in a statement.
Fourth district Councilor Don Juan “DJ” Bagatsing seconded his brother, saying Moreno’s gesture to visit his opponents should also serve as an example to the community leaders, village officials and to the youth.
“We should emulate him. Politics is dirty but for Mayor Moreno, he set aside this,” said Don Juan.
Moreno paid a courtesy visit to Estrada to ensure a smooth transition of power on June 30.
It was the first meeting between the two former political allies-turned-rivals since the May 13 polls.
Moreno, like Estrada who is a former actor, also visited Lim and agreed to work together to make Manila regain its lost glory.
Moreno, a former actor whose real name Francisco Domagoso, won the mayoralty race with 359,925 votes as against the 210,605 votes of Estrada, who he supported in the May 2013 midterm polls, and the 138,923 votes of Lim.
The mayor-elect was an ally and served as vice mayor to the administration of both Estada and Lim.
The Bagatsing family expressed belief that Moreno can do a lot to improve the lives of Manileños and help in the development of the city. They said Moreno ran in the right direction and his campaign was perfect.
The Bagatsing brothers are nephews of Estrada’s running-mate former 5th district congressman Amado Bagatsing who lost to incumbent Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna.
The late Ramon Delaraga Bagatsing, father of Amado, was the longest-serving mayor of Manila from 1971 to 1986.
