The Daily Tribune | Written By Pat C. Santos and Mario J. Mallari | July 29, 2016

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada yesterday announced a P100,000 cash reward for anyone who could pinpoint the location of fugitive murderer Vhon Martin Tanto, the gunman in the brutal slaying of gaming assistant Mark Vincent Garalde and the wounding of an 18-year-old student.

Estrada said he is getting impatient over Tanto’s refusal to peacefully give himself up despite the grace period given to him by the Manila Police District (MPD), which expired at 5 p.m. last Wednesday.

This prompted MPD Director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel to order an extensive manhunt to capture Tanto “dead or alive.”

“P100,000. I’m giving P100,000 for any information that could lead to the arrest of Tanto,” Estrada announced yesterday afternoon.

“Delikado siya ‘pag nahuli siya. ‘pag lumaban siya, siguradong six feet under the ground siya,” Estrada pointed out.

“Of course, I’m appealing to him to surrender,” the mayor stressed. “But once he’s caught, he will be put behind bars, automatic, until he is sentenced… to death.”

When asked if he also wants the suspect killed if he resisted, he quipped: “Dapat diyan, e…itanong niyo kay President Duterte.”

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Eon used by Tanto was recovered yesterday by elements of the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Nueva Vizcaya province.

Report from the Aritao police station in Nueva Vizcaya showed that the red Hyundai Eon, with conduction sticker NO3745, was recovered from Tanto’s brother in law Jonathan Leano in Purok 3, Barangay Kirang in Aritao town at around 5 a.m.

Police operatives managed to trace the car following the manhunt operation ordered against Tanto after he failed to present himself to the Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday afternoon — the deadline set for his surrender.

However, Tanto, an Army reservist, evaded arrest after he reportedly took bus bound for Manila.

The shooting incident was caught by security camera and the footages went viral in the social media.

In the video, Tanto was seen alighting from his car going after Garalde, who was pulling his bicycle from the right side of the car. The two went into a fistfight before Tanto returned to his car.

Moments later, Tanto went out again of his car and went after Garalde, who was then walking away from the scene, and shot the victim at close range several times.

Garalde died on the spot and Tanto sped from the scene.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año ordered the Army Reserve Command to help police in locating Tanto.

The Daily Tribune | Written by Tribune Wires | August 1, 2016

Drawing painful lessons from the Quiapo road rage case that caused the death of a biker, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada yesterday said he will continue funding for more security cameras in Manila’s streets but lamented that last Monday’s killing could have been prevented had onlookers stopped the fight early on.

Estrada said he was briefed by police investigators that several men were even cheering when the victim, Mark Vincent Garalde, and the suspect, Vhon Martin Tanto, were exchanging blows in the street before the Army reservist finished the fight with his pistol.

“CCTVs can only do so much,” the mayor pointed out. “This would not have gone into a shooting fight if the people who were watching and cheering had tried to intervene and stop it and separated the two.”

“Better yet, they should have called the police or the nearby barangay,” Estrada said, adding that the Manila Police District (MPD) is fully capable of responding to any emergencies in a moment’s notice.

According to a witness, Garalde and Tanto had a traffic altercation on Arlegui Street, with Tanto chasing the victim on his bike and cutting him off along P. Casal Street.

Tanto got out of his Hyundai Eon car and engaged the victim in a fistfight. With none of the cheering spectators intervening, the suspect returned to his car, took out his pistol and approached the surprised Garalde, shooting him at close range. All of these were captured on CCTV.
While the video footage was a big help in recording the crime, Estrada said it would have been better if those onlookers immediately pacified the duo, perhaps saving Garalde’s life.

“President Duterte is right in encouraging people to do citizen’s arrest because all of us are responsible for each other as patriotic Filipino citizens. We can spend billions in putting up security systems such as CCTVs for crime prevention but we, as citizens, should be more conscientious in preventing or reporting criminality,” Estrada pointed out.

“Let us do our part, who knows one day it will be our own loved ones who will be the victims of such crime,” Estrada pointed out.

Saying that the “quest for justice does not stop with the arrest of the suspect,” Estrada stressed that “true justice” can only come if people cooperate.

Estrada also conveyed his gratitude to the Army’s Intelligence and Security Group, 9th Infantry Division, and the local police of Milagros, Masbate for capturing Tanto, who has a P100,000 bounty on his head.

“I congratulate the Army soldiers who made strong effort to capture the suspect,” he said.

Estrada said the city government will definitely pursue the installation of more CCTVs throughout the city while at the same time continue equipping the barangays and the city police for anti-crime operations.

Early this month, Estrada released about P20 million in funds to help the city’s 896 barangays fight drugs and crime. The bulk of the funds will be used for the procurement of more CCTVs in the communities.

It was on Estrada first term where all barangays were encourage to put on CCTV cameras in their respective areas to deter crimes or even captured criminal activities in tracking persons responsible for it.

Councilor Macky Lacson, whose father is an incumbent barangay chairman in Tondo, praised Estrada for empowering barangays to fight crime.

During the time of former Mayor Lito Atienza, he recounted that their annual budget was only P1.7 million but since 2013 when Estrada assumed office, their budget has increased to as high as P2.8 million.

“The CCTVs in the barangays have become a deterrent. People have become more disciplined because they know they are being watched by CCCTVs, so malaking tulong talaga as an anti-crime deterrent,” Lacson stressed.

The Daily Tribune | Written by: Tribune Wires | August 02, 2016

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada fulfilling his word personally paid for the hospital bills of an 18-year-old stray bullet victim in the Quiapo road rage shooting last week.

Estrada visited Rocel Bondoc at the Mary Chiles Hospital in Sampaloc yesterday morning and handed the initial cash assistance from his personal funds, assuring her that more help will come.

He did not disclose the amount but Bondoc’s relatives said it is substantial enough to cover their hospital bills, which by now have reached almost P200,000.

“O, Rocel, lakasan mo lang loob mo, ha. Magpagaling ka,” the mayor told Bondoc in her hospital bed.

Despite her weak condition, Estrada recounted the patient was able to exchange words with him and expressed her gratitude.

“I will personally start a fund-raising campaign for her. Tutulungan ko ‘yan nang personal,” Estrada said, adding that he is elated that Bondoc is fast recovering.

Bondoc has been transferred from the Intensive Care Unit after undergoing a delicate surgery last week where doctors removed the slug from the lower back of her body, which damaged one of her kidneys.

The stray bullet victim is an orphan and lives with her aunts and grandmother in P. Casal Street in Quiapo, near the scene where Army reservist Vhon Tanto shot dead Mark Vincent Garalde after a traffic spat.
A city government scholar, Bondoc is currently in her second year of studies and taking up Physical Therapy at the Universidad de Manila.

Interviewed after visiting Bondoc, Estrada said he is glad Tanto was immediately captured even as he congratulated the police and Army soldiers who arrested the suspect in Masbate.

“Hindi maganda ginawa niya. Pumatay siya ng tao. Talo siya (sa suntukan) tapos mamamaril siya. E, bakit siya mamamaril?” Estrada said of Tanto.
When asked if he would like to visit and talk to Tanto in his detention cell, Estrada quipped: “Hindi na. Nagulpi na siya, ‘di ba?”

Meanwhile, Bondoc is set to be discharged from the hospital in 10 days’ to two weeks’ time depending on the speed of her recovery, the hospital director, Dr. Rolando Florendo, said.

“She’s doing very well now. I think, one week to 10 days or up to two weeks, siguro puede na, barring complications. Kaya lang problema lang may tama kasi kidney, e,” Florendo pointed out.

CLEARING OPERATIONS SA BINONDO. Personal na sinaksihan ni Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada ang isinagawang clearing operations sa may Juan Luna at Sta. Elena Streets, Binondo (Bgy. 287, Zone 27) kahapon ng umaga, na pinangunahan ng Manila Department of Public Services. Bukod sa mga pinaalis na illegal vendors at mga tinanggal na barong-barong na nagiging balakid sa maayos na daloy ng trapiko at maging ng mga pedestrian, natuklasan din ng grupo ni Mayor Estrada ang isang drug den sa lugar at agad dinakip ang ilang mga suspek na hinihinalang tulak at users. Sa larawan, pinapakita ni Mayor sa media ang mga nakumpiskang drug paraphernalia mula sa mga naaresto. (Mga larawan ni Joel Santos)

The Daily Tribune| Written by Pat C. Santos| August 10, 2016

As more “narco” officials, judges and policemen were named by President Duterte, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada yesterday directed the chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) to conduct a deeper background investigation and lifestyle check on every officer and member of the city’s police force.

Estrada issued the directive as MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel bared they had identified 10 “ninja cops” or those who resell illicit drugs they had confiscated during police operations that are still in active duty at the MPD.

“This is the time MPD should prove it is really the ‘Manila’s Finest.’ It has to weed out its members who are into drugs,” said Estrada, who had been waging a 24-year war against drugs.

“To do that, it should first check on the lifestyle and personal assets of all the personnel, especially those who have long been suspected of involvement in illicit activities. Identify them and charge them in court and kick them out of the police force,” he added.

Estrada summoned Coronel last Monday after the name of one Chief Insp. Roberto Palisoc, supposedly from the MPD Station 7, appeared on the list of illegal drug protectors released by Duterte last Sunday.

It turned out that Palisoc is no longer with the MPD since 2011, according to Coronel.
“Our records show that Chief Insp. Roberto Palisoc was formerly assigned to MPD Station 7 on Abad Santos, Tondo. But since January 2011, he has been transferred outside MPD and reassigned to NCRPO,” Coronel clarified.

During his stint with the MPD, Palisoc had no record of administrative or criminal cases, Coronel said.
Palisoc retired from the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Feb. 1, 2016.
“I don’t know his present disposition or status as of this moment and we are waiting for confirmation from Camp Crame Records and Personnel Management,” Coronel pointed out.

As to the 10 MPD “ninja cops,” the MPD chief said they are now in the process of taking legal action against them.

Started at MPD during the 90s  ‘Ninja cops’ are legitimate police operatives who are assigned to conduct anti-illegal drug operations but conduct illegal activities like reselling of the seized drug contraband. Some sources said this small group of police operatives has amassed fortunes during their heydays that some had retired recently and others are in their final years in the police service.
“We are hoping we’ll be able to take action against them or at the very least have them transferred or reassigned outside MPD,” Coronel said.
“After we have compiled our evidence, we’ll file a case against them,” he added.

Since he was vice president and head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission in 1992, Estrada has been waging war against drugs for 24 long years until he was elected mayor of Manila in 2013.

In Manila, Estrada is implementing the local version of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, an interactive, classroom-based substance abuse prevention and education course that seeks to prevent the use of prohibited drugs, membership in gangs and violent behavior among the youth.
Through DARE, and with police officers acting as instructors, Estrada explained students are taught how to avoid drugs at a young age.

Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered a 24-hour price monitoring of vegetables in Manila due to reports that some vendors jacked up their prices.

Some vendors reportedly increased their prices after Estrada banned vegetable delivery trucks from unloading their goods along Recto Avenue, particularly the portion leading to Divisoria.

“I will have it checked. I will order a 24-hour price monitoring of vegetables,” Estrada told the Star.

The city mayor banned delivery trucks from traversing Recto Avenue and the streets leading to Divisoria last Friday to further decongest the traffic in the area.

He advised the vegetable dealers to park their vehicles and unload their merchandise on the side streets around Divisoria.

Estrada earlier led the clearing operations in Divisoria, affecting around 2,000 illegal vendors.

Road clearing operations were also conducted in Binondo, Blumentritt, Quiapo, Sta. Cruz and Rizal Avenue in the past weeks.

The Daily Tribune| Written by: Pat C. Santos| August 11, 2016

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has ordered an investigation into reports that unscrupulous individuals have long been using his name to collect millions of pesos in protection fees from vegetable truckers and dealers in Divisoria Market.

Estrada was enraged after a group of vegetable traders told him they each pay P2,800 every week to this group to be able to use a portion of Recto Avenue to unload their cargoes.

They said this has been going on since the 80s.

“My name and reputation are being destroyed here. Matagal na pala ‘to. It’s been there since the time of former Mayors Lito Atienza and Alfredo Lim,” the mayor said as he called on the vendors and vegetable dealers to name those mulcting money from them.

“My office is always open to anyone,” he added.

Estrada ordered Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, deputy director for operations of the Manila Police District, and Che Borromeo, head of Task Force Manila, to look into the vendors’ claims.

He gave Pedrozo and Borromeo one week to identify every member of the extortion gang and those backing them up.

“I always tell everyone not to oppress the poor and those earning a living because they are already poor and we must help them,” Estrada said of the protection racket on Recto and Divisoria.

During a meeting with Estrada, vegetable dealers, most of whom were from Benguet, claimed they shell out P80 a day for a bogus “business permit” and P300 “intelligence fee,” aside from the weekly P2,800 fee.

In return, they are allowed to park unhampered along C. M. Recto Avenue leading to Divisoria Market to unload their cargoes.

But since last week, the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), as directed by Estrada, prohibited the vegetable dealers from traversing Recto Avenue; they were advised instead to use the side streets so as not to disrupt traffic flow.

This was an offshoot of the series of road clearing operations in Divisoria and other areas in Manila.

Dennis Alcoreza, head of the MTPB, said about 20 to 30 vegetable trucks from Benguet, Baguio and other provinces unload their cargoes along the subject portion of Recto Avenue every night, disrupting traffic flow.

Worse, the vegetable dealers leave their mounds of trash, mostly vegetable peelings and leftovers, in the street which the city government spends so much time and effort collecting, he said, adding the vegetable traders leave behind 16 truckloads of garbage in the street every day.

Tribune Tuesday, 16 August 2016

Buong tuwang tinanggap ng mga beneficiaries ng Dubai Housing Project sa Baseco Compound ang kanilang Certificates of Usufruct bilang patunay na sila ang mga unang makikinabang sa nasabing proyektong binuo ng Department of Interior & Local Government at ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Ang isa ngang beneficiary ay hindi nakapag-pigil at lumapit pa kay Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada upang maibulong ang kanyang pasasalamat at makahalik sa kanyang iniidolong si “President Mayor Erap.” (Mga larawan ni Joel Santos)

Sakay na sa libre! Erap provides free bus service for PLM students
Politiko Metro Manila (online)

Students of the city-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) will now enjoy free bus rides courtesy of Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

Estrada has recently acquired two brand new buses that will ferry PLM students for free to and from the university campus in Intramuros.

“We’d like to help PLM students, our beloved city scholars, save money by providing them with free transportation service, money that they can spend to other important needs,” the mayor said.

“This is just a simple gift from the city government to motivate them to study hard so that they’ll become responsible citizens in the future,” the mayor said during the formal turnover of the new buses to PLM president Dr. Maria Leonora De Jesus.

Estrada personally tried the new bus from the city hall to PLM campus, where he was warmly welcomed by De Jesus, students, and members of the faculty.

It was the first time a free transportation service for students of PLM was provided to the students, according to De Jesus.

The 60-seater air-conditioned buses will have designated loading and unloading zones in strategic locations to pick up and drop students, De Jesus said.

“All the students here are scholars and they deserve to be provided with this kind of services. PLM is one of the country’s top universities, that is why the City of Manila is leading when it comes to educational excellence,” Estrada pointed out.

Politiko Metro Manila (online) | Sept. 21, 2016

In his persistent efforts to clear Manila’s major roads and improve traffic flow, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada is re-intensifying his drive against illegal parking that he said has become a milking cow for profiteering syndicates.

And to put those money-making syndicates out of business, Estrada will launch the Manila-wide Mapping and No Parking Zone program that involves the strict enforcement of the city’s policies against illegal parking.

“Illegal parking has long been a serious problem, congesting our already congested roadways. This is so because it is being tolerated and has become the money-making business of criminal syndicates that earn millions from charging illegal parking fees to motorists,” Estrada said.

Aside from Taft Avenue, Estrada said other roads used as “parking lots” by undisciplined vehicle owners are United Nations Avenue, Lawton, Mendiola, Morayta and San Miguel.

On September 15, Estrada has earlier declared Rizal Avenue as a no parking zone after a thorough clearing operation that resulted to the impounding of 30 illegally parked tricycles, five motorcycles, 15 light vehicles, and two “kuligligs” or motorized pedicabs.

A parking fee collector was also arrested for charging illegal fees to vehicle owners.

The revived anti-illegal parking campaign, Estrada said, will complement the ongoing road and sidewalk clearing drive of the city government whose main objective is to clear up precious road space that have been encroached upon by illegal vendors and other obstructions.

The anti-illegal parking operation is being spearheaded by the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) headed by former city councilor Dennis Alcoreza.

“By citywide mapping, we will clearly identify which areas are the designated parking zones and those that are not. If the street you have parked on is a ‘No Parking Zone’, automatic, huhulihin ka,” Alcoreza pointed out.

The objective, the MTPB chief said, is to deny the vehicle owner any excuse or alibi on why he parked in a non-designated parking area.

All major roads and barangay streets are covered by the mapping to ensure that all possible alternate routes are not blocked, according to Alcoreza.

“Illegal parking is rampant, including perpendicular parking, double parking, marami kasing kumikita, and generally motorists that have no garage for their vehicles,” the MTPB chief lamented.

Alcoreza warned that violators will have their vehicles towed or be issued with traffic citation tickets based on the provisions of the Manila Traffic Code and illegal parking regulations of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

To serve as example, Alcoreza said they will soon be clearing Chinatown area of illegally parked vehicles.

“Maraming sindikato sa parking, lalo na sa Divisoria,” he added.

Early last year, the city government has resorted to putting clamps on the wheels of illegally parked vehicles as mandated by Ordinance No. 8109. Violators were fined P900.

Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada delivers brief welcome remarks at yesterday’s forum “The Struggle for Just and Lasting Peace,” organized by the Manila Public School Teachers Association (MPSTA). The event highlights the MPSTA’s objective to be part of national efforts to promote the cause of peace especially among the youth. For his part, Mayor Estrada praised the city’s teachers for representing the best of the Manilenyo: excelling as educators, advocating students and teachers rights and welfare, and being responsible citizens by doing their share to win peace in our time. (Photos by Joel Santos)

MAYOR ERAP, BINISITA NI ‘BATO.’ PO1 BATO, a larger-than-life mascot of the continuing campaign against drugs, pays a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada at City Hall before embarking on his tour of duty: visiting schools and communities to bring the police closer to the people and increasing awareness – especially among the young – on the evils of drugs thereby enhancing their ability to say “NO!” PO1 Bato’s visit also highlights Mayor Estrada’s own campaign to protect young Manilenyos from drugs, particularly through the D.A.R.E.(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program which he originally adopted from the U.S. in 1993 during his vice-presidency, and which he revived during his first term as Mayor of Manila. (Photo by Joel Santos)

Manila Bulletin | by Betheena Kae Unite | October 3, 2016

Hundreds of displaced Divisoria street were allowed to return to designated streets in the busy commercial district, the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) said yesterday.

MTPB Chief Dennis Alcoreza announced that some side streets in Divisoria – Tabora, Carmen Planas, Juan Luna, Sto. Cristo, and Ilaya, to name a few – have been reopened to 610 sidewalk vendors as ordered by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

According to Estrada, the move will balance the right of the motorists, commuters and vendors, and that allowing the vendors to operate in certain streets is a “win-win” solution.

“Our poor vendors are being hurt by our continuous clearing operations and as their leader and the father of the city, it is my duty to look after them,” Estrada said.

Alcoreza said a re-organization is being conducted for the thousands of vendors in Divisoria.

“Initially, they would be allowed to operate along the sidewalks provided they do not obstruct traffic flow,” the MTPB chief said.

The 610 ‘returnees’ have been screened to ensure that all of them are bona fide residents of Manila.

They were then required to register with the Bureau of Permits and secure the necessary hawkers’ permit, Alcoreza said.

Alcoreza further revealed that seven out of 10 vendors in Divisoria were not residents of the city.

He emphasized that illegal vendors who have no permits and are outsiders” would still be banned in any part of Divisoria Market.

To ensure that Divisoria’s major roads remain vendor-free, MTPB, in coordination with the barangay officials and Manila Police District, has been keeping a 24/7 watch in the area to drive away illegal vendors, Alcoreza stressed.

The Philippine Star | By Jose Rodel Clapano | October 6, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – Thirteen more centenarians in Manila will each receive a cash gift of P100,000 as part of the celebration of Elderly Filipino Week, Mayor Joseph Estrada announced yesterday.

Estrada said the centenarians deserve recognition for being the “nation’s role models, having led long, distinguished, healthy and disciplined lives.”

Estrada has approved the release of P1.3 from the Special Activities Fund.

The 13 centenarians constitute the second batch of 100-year-old Manileños who would be given the cash gift.

Last April, the mayor awarded P100,000 each to 17 centenarians.

Manila Standard | by Sandy Araneta | October 10, 2016

In support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against drugs, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada announced on Sunday that the city government will soon conduct mandatory drug testing on all its elected barangay officials.

Estrada warned that those who will be found positive for drug use will be charged with criminal and administrative cases, aside from dismissal from service.

“We will do that from barangay chairmen down to the barangay kagawad (councilors). There will be no exemptions,” he said.

Estrada’s decision was prompted by Friday’s anti-drug operation in Islamic Center, Quiapo where incumbent Barangay 648 chairman Faiz Macabato was killed after fighting it out with policemen who were about to serve an arrest warrant on his drug suspect-brother.

“It is a betrayal of public trust. People elected them. Do you think they are worthy of their positions if they’re drug addicts?” he said.

“We won’t be lenient on any barangay officials who are into drugs. They have no excuses,” Estrada added.

Estrada, along with the 36-member Sangguniang Panglunsod, which includes Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, already subjected themselves to a surprise drug test at the city hall on August 18. None of them tested positive.

It was the first time in recent years that a city mayor voluntarily submitted himself to a drug test, and was also the first to be conducted at the Manila City Hall.

Estrada said there will be no sacred cows in his own anti-narcotics war.

“May this be a warning to them. There is no sacred cow in our anti-drug campaign. We are not afraid of anyone,” he said.

Estrada said he was not surprised that Macabato had been protecting his brother as the barangay captain was among those who have not submitted a list of drug users and pushers in their respective jurisdictions to the city hall.

Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada today inaugurated the city’s newest skatepark located in Vitas,Tondo, in simple ceremonies attended by hundreds of residents eager for a glimpse of the local government’s latest recreational initiative for the youth. In his brief remarks, Mayor Estrada said his administration was committed to protecting and upholding the welfare of young Manilenyos even in terms of recreation and sports which he stressed would keep their focus on beneficial pursuits and steer them away from drugs and other negative influences. Also during the event, His Honor gamely posed with a young policewoman-to-be, and a toddler obviously being groomed to be a future champion skateboarder. (Photos by Joel Santos)

politics.com.ph | Oct. 11, 2016

To help drug dependents start a new life, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has released an initial fund of P50 million to kick-start a comprehensive drug treatment program for thousands of drug suspects who have surrendered to authorities.
Estrada assigned his daughter Jerika Ejercito, program director of the non-government organization Initiatives for Life and Action for Women (ILAW), to spearhead the launch of the “Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap” in Manila’s 896 barangays.
“Drug dependents are also victims. They should not be vilified. They deserve a second chance to live and it is only proper that we should help them become responsible and law-abiding citizens again,” the Manila mayor said in approving the release of P50 million to finance the program.
The Sagip Buhay, Sagip Pangarap program seeks to establish “multi-option modes of quality, efficient, professional, and comprehensive” rehabilitation services in each of the 896 barangays of Manila to enable drug users to achieve complete recovery.
Estrada said the primary aim of the program is to help the drug dependents be reintegrated to the society again.
During the “Newsbreak” forum of the Manila City Hall Press Club at Cherry Blossoms Hotel in Malate this morning, Ejercito announced that they will be training 64 members of ILAW later this month to become “assessors”, or those who will screen the first 2,000 of the more than 9,000 drug suspects who have surrendered to the Manila Police District (MPD) in the previous months.
The assessors will be deployed to the barangays to conduct initial interview and screening of the would-beneficiaries to separate the worst cases of drug abuse to those who are considered “treatable”.
“Seminar ‘yun para sa mga mag-a-assess. Tuturuan sila. Tapos kasama din ang ating mga barangay health workers. They will be very much involved in the screening of our drug patients,” Ejercito explained.
Aside from ILAW volunteers, barangay health workers will be also included in the four-day training to facilitate the assessment and screening of drug patients in every barangay.

Politiko Metro Manila (online) | Oct. 12, 2016

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has given President Duterte a very satisfactory grade of more than 91 percent for his first 100 days in office.

Estrada made this assessment as he backed Duterte in challenging the United States government and European Union (EU) to withdraw all the foreign assistance they have been giving to the Philippines.

“Dapat hindi bababa…tataas pa sa 91 percent,” Estrada said when asked how he would grade the first 100 days of the Duterte administration.

“Mas mataas para lalong ma-encourage ang ating Pangulo na ituloy ang kampanya laban sa droga.”

The former president is one of the Metro Manila mayors who have been supportive of Duterte’s programs and advocacies, particularly his war against illegal drugs.

Estrada said the President should not be lashed at for his recent pronouncements on the alleged fears of withdrawal of aid by the US and EU because of the issue of extrajudicial killings in the country.

“Matagal na tayong independent, lahat sila nakikiaalam. Ngayon kung hihingi tayo ng tulong sa kanila, ‘yun….Mga bobo ba mga Filipino?” Estrada opined.

If the US and EU indeed withdraw all its support to the Philippines, he said nothing can be done about that, asserting that the country, even though it would at first be difficult, can stand in its own feet.

“Eh, wala tayong magagawa d’un.Kaya naman natin kung talagang magsisikap tayo, e. Magpapalimos na lang ba tayo habambuhay?” Estrada said.

Vietnam, he cited, was a poor country when it devastated by war in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s but eventually got back economically.

“Kamukha ng Vietnam, mahirap na mahirap. Bakit ngayon mas malakas pa sa atin? Nag-e-export pa ng bigas ngayon,” Estrada stressed.

“Tulung-tulong lang tayong malagay sa ayos ang ating bansa.Wala kasi tayong malasakit sa ating bansa,” he went on to say.

Inquirer | By Yuji Vincent Gonzales | October 18, 2016

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has ordered the city’s police chief to speed up the operations against 16 local government officials and policemen suspected to be involved in illegal drugs.

Estrada did not name the 16 individuals, but called them “high-value targets” in the Manila Police District’s drug list.

“Government officials who are involved in drugs do not deserve any mercy. They’re even worse than the ordinary street pushers because they took an oath to uphold the law and serve the people,” Estrada said in a statement.

Estrada vowed support to MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Coronel in going after the targets, whom the latter identified as “public servants” from the city hall, barangay, and national government offices based in Manila, and from the police force.

“They’re both elected and appointed (officials). Some are drug users, coddlers, traffickers, or protectors, including from the PNP,” Coronel said.

“We have been monitoring them. Once we are done with the validation and it proved positive, we will conduct an operation—entrapment, arrest or neutralization,” he added.

Coronel said other arrested drug suspects and those who surrendered provided information that led to the identification of the 16 individuals tagged in drugs./rga