MANILA, Philippines – After endorsing Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for president, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez announced before her constituents that she is supporting the vice presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Tulad ng pagpili ko kay Secretary Mar Roxas bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo, naging mahirap po sa akin, kung sino ang aming susuportahan bilang bise presidente dahil marami po sa kanila ay malapit sa amin,” Gomez said before city hall employees on Monday, February 15.

(It has been difficult for us to choose who to support for vice president, just like how we had a hard time choosing Secretary Mar Roxas as our presidential candidate, because many of them are close to us.)

But, according to Gomez, she decided to endorse Marcos because he has a “progressive” plan for the people and he is armed with “rich experience” in public service.

She also highlighted that their family, the Ejercitos, have been in alliance with the Marcoses for about 5 decades.

“Ang pamilya po ng ating panauhing pandangal ngayon, ay isang kaibigang tunay na maaasahan,” she also said.

(The family of our guest of honor today is truly a friend we can depend on.)

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada earlier expressed his support for Marcos in October 2015. Also a former San Juan mayor, Estrada is the father of Gomez’s son, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.

Estrada was also present when Marcos officially announced his intention to run in October last year. The former president was even quoted as saying that he did not have a hard time picking his fellow president’s junior. 

Childhood in San Juan 

Marcos, together with Davao del Norte Representative Antonio Lagdameo Jr, joined Gomez in opening the weekly flag ceremony at San Juan’s city government center.

In a short speech, Marcos established rapport with San Juan residents by telling them that his family once lived in the city during the time former President Ferdinand Marcos was still a congressman.

He said they lived at 204 Ortega Street when the city was still part of Rizal province. He also highlighted how Estrada honored their family, renaming the street as “Marcos Street.”

The Marcoses also have a house along P Guevarra Street in San Juan.

“For the first few years of my life, I was a resident of San Juan…. Rather than welcoming me, you may say welcome back,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Blurry party politics

Marcos is a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP), where Gomez’s rival for the mayoralty race belongs.

Asked about the shifting support of political party members, Marcos acknowledged that it is indeed a phenomenon that is specifically strong in the 2016 elections.

“Talagang in this election, ramdam na ramdam na nagtatawiran nga sa party lines. (In this elections, we can really see the crossover of political party members.) I think [it’s] a sign of the weakening of the multi-party system we are experimenting with,” said the candidate.

He said it is about time to review the Constitution and “be aware of changes” in the times. However, he said amending the Constitution would not be an integral part of his platforms.

Gomez, on the other hand, said crossing political parties is beneficial “if it will entail the revival of the country’s unity.”

“I also want to achieve that kind of unity. Maybe with this kind of crossing party lines we might just be able to achieve [that] and be united once again,” she said. – Rappler.com