Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — This is not a dynasty.
These were combative words from San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, who is seeking reelection with Janella Estrada, Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter as running mate, and a niece running for the city’s lone congressional seat — Jannah Ejercito.
Gomez was reacting to her deputy turned political rival, Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who said he was offering himself as an alternative to the 46-year rule of the Ejercito-Estradas in San Juan.
Recalling a longtime bond with the Zamoras, Gomez admitted she was surprised that her vice-mayor was running against her.
She then issued a warning to San Juan residents.
“Is this how you treat a mother? Kung ako kayang traydoran at balakan ng masama, kayo rin kayang balakan ng masama,” Gomez said.
There’s an upside to the political divide, though — mending strained family ties between the Ejercitos and Estradas.
Half-brothers Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senator JV Ejercito have given the cold shoulder to each other — and JV admitted the friction boils down to politics.
JV explains he used to support the Zamoras while Jinggoy had been vocal about his mistrust of the family. But politics can change alliances, including formerly estranged families.
And with Jinggoy’s daughter running with JV’s mother, it seemed a reconciliation is not far off.
Mayor Gomez is of this opinion: “This is a very, para sa akin, welcome ang nagyaring ito. It has given us the first step towards a real reconciliation between the siblings. Hindi today, pero it’s a beautiful step towards real reconciliation. In the end, they are blood brothers, they will love each other.”
Blood is thicker than water, so they say, unless politics gets in the way.
