Big businessmen backers of Estrada bid

Former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who placed second in the May 10 elections, spent a total of P235.5 million—P227.5 million of which came from donations from business executives—during the whole campaign period, according to his poll expenditure report. In his statement of election contributions and expenditures submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Estrada said that he received P20-million worth of cash donations from family members while another P227.5 million came from the business sector with amounts ranging from P3 million to P15 million.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. head Ricky Razon was one of the two businessmen who gave the biggest donation to the campaign kitty of the former president with P15 million while Estrada’s high school classmate and Kanlaon Constructions head Antonio Evangelista and a certain Jaime Dy also gave P15 million each.

Megaworld boss Andrew Tan gave P12 million while Smart Communications and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and TV5 President Manny Pangilinan shelled out P10 million.

Also on the list of campaign contributors were Ortigas and Co., the real-estate firm that developed the Greenhills Shopping Center and Tiendesitas, P4 million; retail magnate Henry Sy’s SM Shoemart, P10 million and pharmaceutical company United Laboratories Inc., P10 million.

Other businessmen who also shelled out big for Estrada’s bid for the presidency were Jack Ng, P10 million; Eric Lim, P10 million; Eric King, P10 million; William Gatchalian, P10 million; Henry Tan, P10 million; Eric Tagle, P10 million and Jose Yap, P12 million.

The campaign period for the 2010 national and local elections began on February 10 and ended on May 9. Bulk of Estrada’s funds was spent on radio and television advertisements, which totaled about P112.5 million.

Other expenses included printing and distribution of campaign materials, P49.5 million; traveling P41.25 million; volunteer compensation, P27.75 million and telephone and postal expenses, P4.5 million.

Candidates—whether winning or losing—who ran in the recently concluded May 10 polls were all ordered by the Comelec to submit their expenditure reports on or before June 24. –BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON REPORTER, Manila Times