Gomez, however, clarified that her support for Roxas was not binding on her former partner and clan patriarch, ex-President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, and their son, Sen. JV Ejercito.
The mayor announced her endorsement of the Liberal Party鈥檚 standard-bearer before hundreds of city government employees and residents during the weekly flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall grounds.
鈥淚t was a difficult decision,鈥� Gomez later told reporters, explaining that the family was split on which presidential candidate to support. 鈥淏ut for me, I think deep in my heart, the entire city of San Juan and even Mar Roxas know where my heart belongs to.鈥�
鈥淲e will try to get together (but) I cannot promise anything. They have their own minds,鈥� she said.
Leading opposition presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is one of Estrada鈥檚 closest friends and political allies.
Another presidential aspirant, Sen. Grace Poe, is the daughter of the late action star Fernando Poe Jr., Estrada鈥檚 bosom buddy, and a personal friend of Ejercito who had openly expressed support for her.
While he has kept his cards close to his chest, Estrada earlier described Roxas as the 鈥渕ost qualified鈥� for the Malaca帽ang seat.
Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the former President鈥檚 eldest son who is being held at Camp Crame over the P10-billion pork barrel scam, has said he would support whoever his father would endorse.
Gomez, a former actress, described Roxas as a 鈥渃onstant friend of San Juan鈥� who showed his 鈥済enuine concern鈥� in times of disasters when he was still the interior secretary. 鈥淚 will never forget his deep concern for our constituents in the city,鈥� she added.
In a Facebook post Monday, JV Ejercito emphasized that he was 鈥渟till inclined to support鈥� Poe鈥檚 candidacy, whom he considers his sister. But he added that he was also considering the candidacies of Binay and Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, 鈥渁 friend outside politics.鈥�
JV Ejercito, who is Gomez鈥檚 son by the former President, said that he 鈥渦nderstands鈥� and 鈥渞espects鈥� his mother鈥檚 decision to support Roxas.
As head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Roxas had prioritized the relocation of residents living along the waterways and other 鈥渄anger zones鈥� in San Juan.
Roxas expressed his elation over Gomez鈥檚 endorsement. 鈥淭his will have a big impact because Mayor Guia is a symbol of an outstanding mayor in our country, a symbol of a woman leader and a symbol of those who truly care for the masses.鈥�
According to Roxas, Gomez鈥檚 declaration of support was not about his political ambition, but a commitment to the continuation of 鈥渄aang matuwid鈥� (straight path), President Aquino鈥檚 centerpiece reform agenda.
Gomez is running for her third and final term as mayor. She will be running alongside Sen. Jinggoy Estrada鈥檚 daughter Janella, who鈥檚 running for vice mayor, and Estrada鈥檚 niece Jana Ejercito, who鈥檚 vying for the city鈥檚 lone congressional seat.
In June last year, Gomez expressed her support for Poe. 鈥淪he鈥檚 family. She鈥檚 very close to us. We know her, her capabilities, abilities, how sincere she is,鈥� she then said.
Asked Monday why she went for Roxas, Gomez said Poe was too young for the presidency. 鈥淚 wish she first ran for Vice President,鈥� she said.
But for Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who is contesting Gomez in the coming elections, the Ejercito-Estrada clan鈥檚 seeming decision to support different candidates is some sort of an 鈥渋nsurance鈥� for the next administration鈥檚 political favors.