The Ejercito-Estrada political clan of San Juan is set to endorse administration presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II today instead of local bet and close family friend Senator Grace Poe, The Standard learned.
The rival Zamora family, on the other hand, has decided to support Poe.
In an advisory sent to reporters on Friday, the San Juan City information office said Mayor Guia Gomez, a mistress of former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, “will declare their anointed presidentiable” at the weekly flag ceremony at the city hall today.
The advisory also said that the candidate will attend the ceremony.
Roxas’ camp on Saturday confirmed that the administration candidate would attend the flag ceremony after Gomez “opened her doors” in a text message sent to reporters.
Early last week, Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, Gomez’ opponent in the mayoralty race, “adopted” Poe, who is a registered San Juan voter and whose father, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., was a close friend of Estrada.
But it was not clear if the Ejercito-Estradas’ endorsement of Roxas in San Juan also applied to Mayor Estrada in Manila.
Estrada said in December last year that he was inclined to support Poe, his goddaughter.
But on Saturday, Roxas’ wife, former broadcaster Korina Sanchez, posted social media messages hinting that the administration standard-bearer may have finally gotten the support of the Estrada patriarch.
Sanchez, in her Instagram account, posted a photo of her and Estrada when they were both in Tondo, Manila for the celebration of the feast of the Santo Niño.
“Korina, I will always tell everyone that I think Mar Roxas is the most qualified to become president,” Sanchez said, quoting Estrada.
Another presidential hopeful seeking Estrada’s blessings is Vice President Jejomar Binay, who admitted that he needs the former president’s endorsement to win.
Gomez said last December that the members of the family would eventually support whoever they choose collectively.
“That is what the people expect of us,” Gomez said.