Former Philippine President and Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada announced today.
Jinggoy said his 83-year-old father is in a “stable” condition but had to be brought to a hospital because Erap was feeling weak.
Read: Manila mayor Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada recuperating from pneumonia
Erap’s other son, former Senator JV Ejercito, asked the public to support the former president. “Please pray for my father who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital,” Ejercito tweeted.
Please pray for my father who has tested positive for COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital.
Please pray for all those who are likewise fighting this virus. 🙏🏽
— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) March 28, 2021
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A former actor, Erap was president of the country from 1998 to 2001, but resigned after he was impeached over corruption allegations. He was incarcerated and found guilty of his crimes, but was pardoned by his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He was freed in 2007 and ran for president in 2009 but lost to Benigno Aquino III. In 2013, he successfully ran for mayor of Manila City and was re-elected to the position in 2016. He failed to clinch a third term when he lost to the incumbent, his former ally Isko Moreno.
