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'Sue me': Erap dares critics after COA report on Manila's debt

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/02/13/erap-021317.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA - Former Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he was ready to face any court after a Commission on Audit report said the Philippine capital had a cash deficit of P4.3 billion under his watch. &quot;If there is something wrong, sue me. I&#x27;m willing to face any. I inherited a bankrupt city. I paid all the debts and was able to put up all these projects, renovate all the hospitals--free hospitals, free doctors, free medicines, free burial,&quot; Estrada said in an interview on DZMM on Tuesday afternoon.Estrada said all records have been turned over to the Department of Interior and Local Government.&quot;May records naman yan. Record cannot lie. Yun ang puntahan nila. As far as I&#x27;m concerned my conscience is clear,&quot; he said.Estrada said cleaning up the city from illegal vendors was easy. However, there are things that should be considered.&quot;Ilang taong na akong naging mayor--sa San Juan sa Maynila---naging presidente pa ako. Madali yan iutos pero titingnan mo rin kapakanan ng kapwa tao mo, lalo na yung mga mahihirap,&quot; he said. [I&#x27;ve been mayor for years, even became a president. It&#x27;s easy to order a clean-up but you have to consider how it will affect the poor.]<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/tvpatrol/07/04/20190704-divisoria-clear-streets-3.jpg"/></figure></div>The former president also said bribery claims of his successor Mayor Isko Moreno was ridiculous. Moreno had said he was offered P5 million to stop his operations against illegal vendors.&quot;Hindi nga makagpagbayad sa city hall araw-araw nahihirapan pa mag offer pa ng milyon-milyon? Kalokohan. Wala nang mapakain sa kanilang pamilya magbibigay ng milyon-milyon? Tama na yang mga kalokohan na &#x27;yan,&quot; he said.[These vendors can&#x27;t even pay rent every day, and yet they can offer millions? That&#x27;s ridiculous.]Despite accusations being thrown at him, Estrada still wished Moreno&#x27;s success.&quot;Let us pray and wish him success. There&#x27;s that saying once a person is elected kung walang daya talagang clean elections, the voice of the people is the voice of God. Let us help him,&quot; he said.

MANILA - Former Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is willing to face any court after a Commission on Audit report said that the city has a cash deficit of P4.3-billion.

MANILA - Former Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is willing to face any court after a Commission on Audit report said that the city has a cash deficit of P4.3-billion.