Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez has vowed to support Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas in the 2016 elections, but not the administration party’s vice presidential bet Leni Robredo.
Gomez, a member of the opposition party Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), admitted that she struggled with her decision.
She explained that she’s backing the administration’s candidate since Roxas had helped her city during calamities.
“Maybe it is now my turn to cross party lines,” Gomez said.
The mayor’s long-time partner, former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who is also the father of her only child Sen. JV Ejercito, heads the PMP.
Also read: Roxas among presidential choices of Ejercitos
Gomez said she has explained her decision to both men, who both understood her decision.
“You will have my support this coming may elections,” she told Roxas.
The mayor added she will try to convince them to back Roxas, but can’t guarantee anything.
“Subukan lang pero I cannot say anything. Sabi ko nga, they have their own minds.”
[Translation: I will try but I cannot say anything. As I said, they have their own minds.]
Meanwhile, Gomez would not say who she’s backing for vice president.
Senator Ejercito, who is backing Sen. Grace Poe in the elections, said he respects his mother’s decision.
The mother and son have agreed to disagree on their presidential preferences.
Roxas won’t ask Gomez for PMP backing
Roxas spoke at the flag raising ceremony in San Juan city where he thanked Gomez for her support.
“Malaki ang pasalamat ko kay Mayor Guia,” Roxas said.
[Translation: I am so grateful to Mayor Guia.]
“Damang dama ko na hindi madali para sa kanya itong desisyon.”
[Translation: I really feel that it was not easy for her to make this decision.]
Out of respect for her, he said he would not ask her to get other PMP members on his side.
In the latest pre-election surveys showing Vice President Jejomar Binay back on top of the race, Roxas noted that in the opinion of experts, he and a few other candidates are statistically tied as of this time.
The LP bet is confident he will win the May elections.
“Ayon sa mga experts, plus or minus we are all statistically tied. Tulad ng lagi kong sinasabi, pinakamahalagang survey ay yung survey sa Mayo at alam ko na ang ating mga kababayan… sa dulo mananaig ang maayos, tapat at tuwid,” said Roxas.
[Translation: According to experts, plus or minus we are all statistically tied. Like what I always say, the most important survey is the survey on May. In the end, our fellow countrymen will choose the honest and the straight one.]
Roxas admitted that the decision of President Benigno Aquino III to veto the SSS pension hike bill could affect his candidacy. But he stood by the veto, even if it is unpopular.
The administration’s candidate stressed it would be wrong for him to turn his back on the move for political gain.
