San Juan mayor to endorse Mar?

MANILA, Philippines – Will San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez endorse the candidacy of Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas?

This question was raised yesterday after Roxas’ camp said he would be the guest speaker at the San Juan city government’s flag-raising ceremony today.

In an advisory sent to reporters last Friday, the city’s public information office claimed that Gomez, a partner of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada “will declare their anointed presidentiable” during a flag-raising ceremony at the city hall building today.

The advisory also mentioned that the candidate “will grace the flag-raising ceremony.”

When pressed for details, San Juan officials told reporters to wait for the official announcement today.

However, in a message sent to reporters covering Roxas on the campaign trail, his camp claimed “Mayor Guia Gomez had opened her doors.”

Last month, Gomez claimed that the influential Estrada political clan would abide by the former president’s choice.

“Eventually, we all have to decide. We all have to make a decision. Whatever it is, that is what the people expects of us,” Gomez said.

The camps of Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance and Sen. Grace Poe are also seeking the endorsement of the Estrada political clan.

It is not yet clear whether Estrada would join Gomez in endorsing Roxas or endorse Binay or Poe, who are both close to him.

Poe, who casts her vote in San Juan City, is the daughter of Estrada’s close friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Roxas placed fourth in the latest presidential survey.