MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – He was surrounded by people clad in yellow and was walking behind the man the administration is fielding for president in 2016.

But for Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco, who is with the opposition, politics should never get in the way of programs that could benefit an industry that is his city’s second biggest source of income.

Tiangco is the younger brother of Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco, president of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and spokesman for Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay is expected to go head-to-head against Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the standard-bearer of the administration.

“Pinag-usapan namin dito ‘yung industriya at nakita naman natin na kung mabuti para sa industriya, dapat walang pulitika doon eh. Dapat lahat tayo nagtutulungan. Secretary Mar is still in the Cabinet, he’s still part of the government, he’s the alter-ego of the President,” Tiangco told Rappler in a chance interview on Wednesday, August 5, on the sidelines of Roxas’ visit to a private shipyard in Navotas.

(We’re here to talk about the industry and when it comes to things that will better the indsutry, politics should not be involved. It’s only right that we help each other.)

Roxas was officially endorsed by Angkla party list as their bet for 2016 during the same event.

Party list members were in yellow during the event, the same shade as that of the ruling Liberal Party. Tiangco wore red.

During the 2013 elections, the local Partido Navoteño, which is affiliated with UNA, won over the LP’s bets in the city.

Tiangco accompanied Roxas around the shipyard, on board the MV Island Evisa, and during the party list’s general assembly which was covered by the media.

“We still have 10 months,” explained Tiangco, referring to the 2016 elections. As a member of UNA, Tiangco will be supporting Binay in the coming elections.

But there’s a place and time for politics, said the mayor. 

“Sayang naman yung 10 months kung parati nating pag-uusapan ang pulitika. May time naman ang kampanya pero ito, syempre proud din tayo sa produktong gawa sa Navotas (It would be a waste if those 10 months are spent talking politics. There is a right time for campaigning but of course we’re proud of the products made in Navotas),” added Tiangco.

‘Ninong Mar’

The mayor and Roxas have ties that go beyond politics.

Before Tiangco entered politics, he worked with Roxas during Roxas’ time as trade secretary.

Roxas even stood as Tiangco’s godfather when he got married. The secretary’s late father, former Senator Gerardo Roxas, was also friends with Tiangco’s father.

Roxas also had warm words for Tiangco, whom he credited for providing a good environment for the shipping industry.

“At bilang pinuno ng local government unit, marahil na masasabi na napakahalaga po ng environment na binibigay ng LGU para maka-asenso po at umasenso ang mga negosyong tumatayo dito,” Roxas said. (As head of the local government unit, businessmen will attest to the importance of the local government unit in providing a good environment so businesses flourish.)

The presidential wannabe, speaking to reporters as he toured the Navotas-built MV Island Evisa, said strengthening the maritime and shipping industry should be among the country’s priorities. – Rappler.com