HOSPITALIZED. Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has been hospitalized due to pneumonia

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor and former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada is in the hospital due to pneumonia.

A dzMM report on Friday, December 23, quoted Estrada's son and senator JV Ejercito as saying his father has been confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City since Wednesday night, December 21, after turning pale and experiencing difficulty in breathing.

Ejercito said doctors detected a slight infection in Estrada's lungs.

In a dzBB interview, Ejercito said his father's condition is already improving, but doctors want the former president to stay in the hospital for close monitoring.

Estrada, 79, was reelected mayor of the city of Manila during the May 2016 elections. – Rappler.com</s>MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada has been confined for three days in a San Juan hospital, his son Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito bared on Friday.

Ejercito is at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center and is recuperating, the senator said in a radio interview.

 He contracted pneumonia or infection of the lungs, likely because of fatigue, Ejercito said.

Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Estrada is a known chain smoker.

 Estrada, who was president from 1998 to 2001, became mayor of Manila in 2013 and was reelected in May.

When Estrada was first brought to the hospital three days ago, the mayor was “maputla at hirap na hirap huminga [pale and having difficulty in breathing],” Ejercito said.

But on Friday, Estrada’s condition was improving, he said.

He said the Ejercito-Estrada family was hoping the mayor would be in better shape on Christmas Day.</s>Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has been confined in a hospital due to pneumonia, Radio dzMM reported on Friday.

Citing Estrada’s son Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, the report said the former president was brought to Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City two days ago and was diagnosed with slight infection in the lungs.

But the report said Estrada’s condition has been improving.

Doctors, however, did not advise Estrada to go home yet as they are monitoring his condition, it added. YG/RAM</s>Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada may not be home for Christmas as he has been confined in the hospital since Wednesday due to pneumonia.

This was according to Estrada’s son, Sen. JV Ejercito, who said his 79-year-old father was “not really good, had a hard time breathing and looked pale” when brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.

“There’s a chance he might not be home for Christmas,” Ejercito told the Inquirer, noting that a pneumonia patient especially of Estrada’s age requires monitoring. “It can take a while.”

Doctors so far had given Estrada antibiotics and his condition was “improving slowly,” the senator added.

Not the first time

City Hall spokesperson Diego Cagahastian said it was not the first time that Estrada had been hospitalized for days.

Sometime in 2003, he recalled, Estrada underwent a knee surgery in Hong Kong. The former President was then under hospital arrest and on trial for plunder at the Sandiganbayan antigraft court, which granted him permission to have the operation outside the country.

Cagahastian maintained that Estrada had made no special requests while confined at the hospital, saying he continued to run the affairs of the local government from there by sending instructions on the phone.

“He is still the mayor. It’s still him who is in charge,” Cagahastian said.

Malacañang on Friday issued a statement wishing for Estrada’s speedy and full recovery.

“Get well soon, Mayor Erap,” said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who also heaped praise on the political veteran who has consistently praised President Duterte, particularly on his antidrug campaign.

“As mayor of the Philippines’ capital and premier city, he regained Manila’s lost glory. The National Competitiveness Council named it the most competitive city in the Philippines,” Andanar said.—KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA</s>POLITICAL COMEBACK. Former President Joseph Estrada takes his oath as Manila mayor.

MANILA, Philippines – Twelve years after he was ousted in an uprising, former President Joseph Estrada staged his political comeback, calling himself the “ex-convict mayor” of Manila.

Estrada, 76, took his oath as the chief executive of the Philippine capital on Sunday, June 30, exactly 15 years after he was sworn in as the Philippines’ 13th president.

His close ally, resigned Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, administered his oath of office. Estrada's running mate, re-elected Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, also took his oath before Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada, along with 36 Manila councilors.

The popular movie star-turned-politician began his inaugural address in typical colorful fashion, cracking jokes about his ouster and conviction for plunder in 2007.

“This is another historic milestone for the city of Manila. For the first time, Manila will have an ex-convict as your city mayor,” Estrada told a crowd that included Vice President Jejomar Binay, family, political allies, former Cabinet members, and Manila city hall employees.

“Kung ako man ay ex-convict ito ay dahil sa aking prinsipyo. (If I were convicted, it was out of principle.) I feel that I am in good company with Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, and our own Sen Ninoy Aquino who was also convicted by a military court.”

“We were all convicted that is why we are now all men of conviction,” Estrada quipped.

Turning serious, Estrada outlined his agenda to “bring back the glory and beauty” of the once famed Philippine capital. He was elected after promising to address what he called the city's decay.

Estrada won as mayor of Manila in the May polls, defeating friend-turned-rival Alfredo Lim of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). Estrada is a stalwart of Binay's opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

It was one of the hottest and most watched local races, with the two controversial figures’ rivalry turning personal and at times ugly.

His victory marks his return to government, after placing second to President Benigno Aquino III in the 2010 presidential race. Estrada makes history as the only deposed leader in recent history to make a political comeback.

MANILA COUNCILORS. Thirty-six councilors of Manila also took their oath before Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada.

Estrada was impeached, detained, and convicted for allegedly receiving payoffs from illegal gambling. Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo though pardoned him just weeks after he was convicted in 2007.

“The fight against corruption will be the centerpiece of my administration. We will clean up our police force to see to it that they will be Manila’s finest, not Manila’s worst,” he said in his speech.

Addressing so-called “kotong cops,” Estrada said, “Your days are numbered here in Manila. Your days are over in this city. Tapos na ang maliligayang araw niyo. Tapos na, tapos na, tapos na, tapos na.” (Your happy days are over.)

The new Manila mayor cited a study of University of the Philippines professors and police reports about the high poverty, unemployment and car theft incidence in Manila.

“Ang mahihirap ay tinutulungan, hindi kinokotongan. Dito sa Maynila, ang mahihirap ang amo ni Erap,” said the leader who branded himself a champion of the masses. (We must help the poor, not steal from them. Here in Manila, Erap’s boss is the poor.)

Estrada also called on businessmen to install CCTV in commercial establishments to help the city government fight crime. He urged his councilors to pass an ordinance for this purpose.

In his first 100 days, Estrada vowed to clear the streets of vendors that cause traffic. “My proposal is to have a night market.”

Estrada also promised to address the city’s notorious flooding problem.

“We will start cleaning our waterways to mitigate flooding. We will do this in line with a clear climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction mitigation program. We must learn our lesson from last year …. We will give full attention to the dredging of esteros and we will relocate those living there to a safer place.”

Estrada said the city government will cooperate with President Aquino’s plan of relocating informal settlers living near waterways. He also thanked Binay, the housing czar, for promising to assist in the effort.

The former President also promised to improve health care by raising revenues and tax collection.

Estrada said his government will expedite the release of business permits and licenses.

“There are problems left and right that’s why investors and businessmen transfer to other cities and leave Manila.”

Estrada said the plan to renew Manila includes an admission of the city’s numerous problems.

“Magtataka pa ba tayo kung bakit sinabi ni Dan Brown, isang American author, na nasa Maynila ang ‘gates of hell?’ Many are in a state of denial about this pero para sa akin at para sa ating lahat, this is a wake-up call kaya ang sigaw natin: gising Maynila, bangon Maynila, sulong Maynila!”

Estrada stressed the need for Manila’s urban renewal, his key campaign promise.

“Manila is the gateway to the Philippines, the face of the Philippines, the image of the Philippines. It must be honorable, deserving of respect of the international community.”

Estrada though said he cannot fulfill all his promises alone in his 3-year term.

"Hindi po ako si superman at alam kong hindi ko kayang bigyan lahat ng ito ng madaling solusyon .... Ang hinihiling ko sa inyo ay kaunting tiis, kaunting sakripisyo. Dagdag na pasensya, dagdag na pag-unawa, at higit sa lahat, ang inyong buong-pusong malasakit at pagdamay.”

In assuming office as Manila mayor, Estrada comes full circle. After show business, he began his political career as mayor of San Juan in 1969 and held the post until 1986.

Estrada was elected senator in 1987 and vice president in 1992. He became president in 1998 with an overwhelming mandate, only for his term to be cut short after 3 years amid corruption allegations.

The former President has often said that the election of his wife, Dr Loi Estrada, and son Jinggoy Estrada as senators, and his near victory in 2010 marked his full vindication.

He said he decided to run for Manila mayor to give back to a city where he was born, and made a name in show business.

“Inaalay ko ang huling hibla ng aking buhay kasi mahalaga sa akin ang kapakanan ng Maynila. Ang kinabukasan ng Maynila ay kinabukasan ng bansa.” (I offer the last fiber of my life because the welfare of Manila is important to me. Its future is the country’s future.) – Rappler.com</s>Malacanang on Friday wished the “speedy and full recovery” of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada after he was confined at a hospital because of pneumonia.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said Estrada was brought to Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City two days ago and was diagnosed to have slight infection in the lungs.

“The Palace wishes the speedy and full recovery of former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada,” Andanar siad in a statement.

The Palace official described Estrada as the mayor who “regained Manila’s lost glory.”

“The National Competitiveness Council named it the most competitive city in the Philippines. Get well soon, Mayor Erap!,” he said.

Estrada is now on his second term as Manila mayor after narrowly beating former mayor Alfredo Lim in the May national elections.</s>Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Saturday intensified police security in Divisoria, Binondo and Quiapo to keep late Christmas shoppers safe.

Manila Police District chief Joel Coronel deployed more policemen to the three busiest commercial districts as reports of children getting lost poured in amid the holiday shopping rush especially in Divisoria.

“For me, this is very ironic, and very saddening. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and yet, there have been reports of children getting lost in the midst of busy movement of the hundreds of thousands of people doing their Christmas rush shopping,” Estrada said.

Estrada advised shoppers not to bring children to crowded areas as estimates pegged the number of people who shop in Divisoria at one million a day.

Last week, Coronel said six cases of missing children in Divisoria were recorded. The youngsters were returned to their families.

“That is why we have increased police visibility, particularly in Divisoria, and also in Binondo and Quiapo, where a lot of people are coming in,” he said.

Two hundred additional policemen in Divisoria were deployed and public assistance tents where shoppers can ask for assistance, especially on cases of missing children, were put up.

Coronel has cancelled the vacation leaves of the 4,652 members of the MPD until New Year because of the existing terror alert in the country.

He advised the public to be vigilant, especially when shopping in Divisoria.

“Please refrain from wearing jewelry or carrying large amounts of cash. Bring companions as much as possible,” he said.</s>MANILA, Philippines – A Commission on Elections (Comelec) division disqualified a mayor and councilor in Bulacan on Thursday, October 3, for alleged vote buying during the 2013 midterm elections.

Norzagaray, Bulacan, Mayor Alfredo Gemera, who ran under the Liberal Party (LP) banner, was disqualified by the Comelec First Division, favoring the complaint filed by his opponent, Feliciano Legaspi Sr of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Also disqualified was Councilor Rogelio Santos Jr, also an LP member. He was Norzagaray's top 2 councilor in the 2013 polls, and the town's outgoing vice mayor in the lead-up to the polls.

According to a tweet by Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, 4 juice boxes containing a total of P692,000 were presented as evidence to prove Gemera and Santos' involvement in vote buying.

According to the Omnibus Election Code, vote buying – an election offense – carries a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than 6 years, and shall not be subject to probation. The offender will also be perpetually disqualified from voting and holding public office.

Last week, the same Comelec division disqualified Laguna Gov Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito – nephew of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada – for campaign overspending. He defeated LP bet Edgar Luis by a huge 100,000-vote lead.

Reacting to criticisms that the poll body was targeting opposition members, Jimenez said in a TV talk show that the next disqualification to be announced would involve an LP member.

When a proclaimed mayor is disqualified, his post is assumed by the vice mayor, not by the opponent he or she defeated in the mayoral race.

Gemera and Santos can still file an appeal with the Comelec en banc. – Michael Bueza/Rappler.com</s>On the day they opened their doors for previews, Okada Manila held a Christmas concert with Toni Gonzaga, Luis Manzano, Bamboo, and more! Check out their photos here

MANILA, Philippines – Manila's newest resort and casino Okada Manila opened its doors for a sneak peek and a Christmas concert on Wednesday, December 21.

The celebration marks the beginning of Okada Manila's preview period – the Pearl Wing lobby and part of its casino are open for viewing "24 hours a day, 7 days a week," according to their website.

The Pearl Wing, with its pink interiors and capiz Christmas tree, is the lobby that visitors will see as they go through the main entrance of the resort.

From the outside, visitors can see the hotel's shining gold exterior and its grand entryway.

Only part of the hotel and casino is open to visitors for now, as the resort is still in construction. Okada Manila is set to open in 2017.

Meanwhile, at the Christmas celebration, hosted by Rico Robles, Toni Gonzaga, and Luis Manzano, Kazuo Okada himself was there to greet the audience a Merry Christmas before launching the fireworks show.

Stars like Bamboo, Regine Velasquez, and Lani Misalucha also performed their hits, a few covers, and some Christmas songs for the crowd at the free-for-all concert, along with dancers and DJs.

When complete, Okada Manila is set to have shops, a gaming hub, an indoor beach club, 993 rooms, and a fountain as large as 50 Olympic-sized pools.

Have you been inside Okada Manila? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments! – Rappler.com</s>Yuri Luzhkov, former mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010, has been hospitalized.



Earlier some media outlets had reported that the ex-mayor had been urgently hospitalized and that he had been declared clinically dead.

However, those reports were later refuted by the ex-mayor's press secretary, Gennady Terepkov. Terepkov told the television channel Dozhd that Luzhkov was in a clinical hospital in Lapino, but his condition was not life-threatening.
Former Philippines president and current mayor of Manila Joseph Estrada is hospitalized for pneumonia.