San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez declares support for Mar

MANILA, Philippines –Despite coming from different political parties, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez on Monday said she is endorsing Liberal Party’s standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II due to his selfless service to the people of San Juan.

Gomez said she is expressing her support for Roxas due to his selfless service and concern to the people of San Juan and her constituents even if they are from different political parties. San Juan City is known as a bailiwick of former President Joseph Estrada.

“Lately, I have had sleepless nights thinking of how we can repay you for all your love and care for us, until it came to my mind that maybe it is now my turn to cross party lines. Thank you, thank you for that, for the betterment of our dear city,” Gomez told Roxas.

“I have come to a decision that to express my personal gratitude to all of these. You will have my full support,” she added.

Roxas was warmly welcomed in San Juan during the the inauguration of the completed housing project in St. Josephville that provided homes to hundreds of informal settler families living in danger zones last December.

The mayor expressed her gratitude to Roxas and recognized his initiative to the program Oplan Likas intended for the residents of San Juan’s flood prone areas, during his term as the Interior and Local Government Secretary.

“Secretary Mar, thank you for your concern, not only for me, but for the people of San Juan. We owe it to you that we were able to bring thousands of San Juaneños previously living in danger zone areas to a better life with our Oplan Likas,” Gomez said.

Gomez however clarified that her support for Roxas may not necessarily translate to the support of the rest of the Estrada clan but she assured that the people of San Juan will also support him citing the positive effect of the housing projects in her city.

Aside from the housing projects, Gomez said she is also endorsing Roxas for his response to the issues faced by San Juan.

“Our dearest secretary and our Sen. Mar has always been a constant friend of San Juan. He has always been there for us. Siguro, sa lahat ng mga national officials, siya lang ‘yung talagang, unang-una siya sa lahat na magtanong sa amin kung ano na ang kondisyon namin kung may floods, kung may typhoons, may fire, everything else. That is, hindi ko po makakalimutan ang kanyang deep concern sa aming mga kababayan dito sa aming lungsod,” Gomez said in a separate interview.

Gomez expressed her support to Roxas during the weekly flag-raising ceremony in San Juan City Hall, attended by over 100 barangay officials from the 21 barangays of San Juan and over 700 city hall employees. It was also witnessed by the members of support organization for women empowerment, Pink Ladies National Foundation.

Roxas also expressed gratitude for Gomez’s support and her excellent public service.

“Nakikita natin dito sa San Juan ang pamumuno, pamunuan ni Mayora Guia, sampu ang mga kasamahan niya sa konsehal, kasama ang buong sambayanan ng San Juan na kung saan nagtatagpo yung development at yung peace and order, ‘yung kaayusan, ‘yung katahimikan sa komunidad, kaya mabilis ang paglago ng San Juan. Maraming salamat sa inyo, sa inyong serbisyo,” Roxas said.