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By Rio Rose Ribaya | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom â€" 18 hours ago


Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada has officially lost several allies.

This, as reelectionist Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and returning Senator Ma. Anna Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal endorsed Estrada's close rival Alfredo Lim in the mayoral race in the city Manila.

At the sidelines of Lim's proclamation rally at Bonifacio Shrine in Manila, Pimentel vowed to support Lim even if he is not a voter in the city.

"The mere fact that I am here in the only local proclamation rally that I attended means that I am rooting for Mayor Lim," Pimentel told reporters.

Related story: Lim claims Cory 'not sorry' to Estrada

Pimentel, who left Estrada's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) last year, said the incumbent mayor has been raising legitimate issues against Estrada.

In May 2012, Pimentel left UNA coalition after harboring grudge against the former chief executive, for accepting his nemesis, former Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, in his Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Estrada is the chairman emeritus of PMP, which formed official alliance with the Partidong Demokratikong Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) where he took leave as its president.

Madrigal, who won her first seat in the Senate with Estrada's backing under the slate of late Fernando Poe Jr, also expressed unconditional support for Lim.

Madrigal said Lim's good track record is needed to further develop the City of Manila. She also described the incumbent official as the only candidate pushing the “straight path” campaign of President Aquino.

Madrigal added that her close friend espouses the policy of "unang daan" instead of "tuwid na daan."

“Si Mayor Lim ay talagang matalik na kaibigan at maganda ang nagawa niya sa Metro Manila, marami dito ang libreng pag-aral ng mga bata at pagpapagamot ng mga maysakit. Marami siyang natulungan na mga tao kaya ikakampamya ko ang tuwid na daan,” Madrigal stressed.

Saying she still maintains her personal relationship with Estrada, Madrigal is confident the former president will not take it against her if she endorses Lim for the upcoming polls.

“Nagkita kami sa Baguio (ni Erap), nag-usap kami at iyung pagkakaibigan ng isang tao ay dapat i-separate sa politika. Mukha namang hindi siya magtatampo, lahat naman ng ito is nothing personal, only strictly politics,” Madrigal added.

Agoi, Dirty Harry is on the go!

NPPA - Incumbent Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim gets cheers from the crowd during his proclamation rally as the Liberal Party bet for the local polls, April 1, 2013. (George Calvelo, NPPA Images)