Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has formally resigned as head of former president Joseph Estrada’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) following Tuesday’s announcement of the ousted leader that the local official was removed as party president.
“With due respect, consistent with your recent public pronouncement that I have resigned from the PMP, I am therefore hereby tendering my irrevocable resignation from the said party retroactive from the date of your announcement,” Lim wrote in his resignation letter.
Lim thanked the pardoned leader “for the personal concern and assistance you extended me, and to the privileges enjoyed by me while active member of the PMP.”
He also said that he is and will always be an oppositionist.
In a press release, the Manila mayor maintained that he would remain Estrada’s friend.
In a resolution by PMP’s executive committee, Lim was removed as president of the party. He was replaced by Estrada who is also the PMP chairman.
Estrada said as PMP president he would strengthen the membership of the PMP in order to boost its chances in 2010 presidential elections.
He, however, was quick to say that he has no definite plans yet on whether he will seek reelection.
Lim served as Interior and Local Government secretary of Estrada from 1999-2001. They had a falling out when the Manila mayor joined the 2001 people power revolution that ousted Estrada from office.
Estrada was charged and later convicted with plunder. A month after his conviction, he was granted executive clemency by President Arroyo.