Mar gains support of Erap’s partner, San Juan’s Guia Gomez

Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas on Monday secured the support of a member of a powerful political clan in San Juan City.

San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, partner of Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, officially endorsed Roxas' candidacy during the city government's flag-raising ceremony.

"You have my support this elections and you have the support of San Juaneños," Gomez told Roxas during the flag-raising ceremony.

On Monday morning, Roxas served as guest of honor and keynote speaker during the flag raising ceremony of the San Juan City Hall.

Around 1,000 local and barangay officials led by Gomez together with the government employees of the city attended the ceremony.

"Lately I have been having sleepless nights. Maybe it is now my turn to cross party lines," Gomez said, adding that Roxas went beyond party lines when he helped the city during his term as interior secretary.

Gomez said that Estrada and their son Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito did not raise objections when she informed them of her decision.

Estrada has yet to declare who he will support in the presidential election.

She said she will also try to convince Estrada to support Roxas.

“Subukan lang, pero I cannot say anything. Sabi ko nga, they have their own minds. Eh mas matanda po siya kaysa sa akin,” she said in jest.

“Alam niya rin na ang aking decision is mine. Akin ho iyon, at when I have decided, 'yun na iyon. I do not usually change my decision, and ever since, I think alam na nila iyon. Alam na nila kung nasaan ang puso ng inyong lingkod,” Gomez added.

JV respects decision

Sen. Ejercito on Monday said he respects his mother's decision to support Roxas.

"I respect the decision of my mother to support the candidacy of her palangga, Secretary Mar Roxas," he said.

Ejercito, however, said he will support Sen. Grace Poe in the May 2016 presidential polls.

"We agreed to disagree on our presidential preferences as I will remain supporting my 'kapatid' Senator Grace Poe," he said.

"My mother and I had experienced sleepless nights as most of the presidentiables are all close to us. She has her own reasons, as well as our countrymen has their own reasons with their preferences. I do not see anything wrong with this. That is democracy at its best," he added.

Ejercito earlier said that he will not be actively campaigning for any presidential candidate as he will focus on the candidacy of his parents.

Estrada is running for reelection as Manila mayor.

Gomez is seeking reelection for her third and final term in San Juan City.

She is running against Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, son of San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, an ally of Estrada.

Gomez had said that she felt betrayed by the younger Zamora's decision to run for mayor.

The younger Zamora, on the other hand, said he decided to run for mayor to stop the Ejercito-Estrada clan from establishing a political dynasty in San Juan.

The Zamoras are reportedly supporting Sen. Grace Poe's presidential run.

Mar is hopeful

Roxas, for his part, hopes that Gomez’s declaration of support will influence other city mayors outside the administration party to do the same.

“Malaking impact ito dahil si Mayora Guia ay simbolo-simbolo ng mga mahuhusay na mayors sa ating bansa…So malaking bagay ito. May epekto ito hindi lang sa San Juan, pero sa buong Pilipinas. Magre-reverberate ito, uugong ito,” he said. —With reports from Sandra Aguinaldo, Amita Legaspi, and Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/ALG/KG, GMA News