Trouble is brewing in San Juan as the Zamoras are being pitted against the Ejercito- Estrada clan in a word war.
This developed as the city’s Vice Mayor Francis Zamora blasted the Ejercito-Estrada clan over what he calls their plans of “perpetuating their 46-year reign” by monopolizing local electoral posts.
“Clearly now, their selfish vision is to have the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Congressman positions under the sole ownership of the Estrada family and prolong their 46-year reign in the city,” Zamora said .
“You know at this point I will go back to the clear message that they are sending—Wala na po bang ibang may kakayahan na maging punong lungsod ng San Juan? Ultimately, it is not about what I want or what they want but about what our people want. The people of San Juan deserve a choice,” said Zamora in a mix of English and Filipino.
Zamora claimed that incumbent Mayor Guia Gomez will run alongside Councilor Janella Ejercito—daughter of Senator Jinggoy Estrada as mayor and vice-mayor, respectively. Jinggoy’s wife—Precy Ejercito or Jana Ejercito—JV’s cousin will run for the congressional post.
Janella Ejercito is being groomed by the clan to be the next mayor of San Juan in 2019.
Senator JV Ejercito in a previous statement claimed that Vice Mayor Zamora was planning to unseat the senator’s mother—Mayor Guia Gomez in the May 2016 elections.
The young Zamora told reporters he felt disappointed following Estrada’s pronouncements to dump them, together with family patriarch Congressman Ronaldo Zamora.
The vice mayor said that the Zamoras have been supportive of the Estrada family “for so long.”
Senator JV Ejercito dismissed these accusations made by Zamora, reminding him that he authored the ‘Anti-Political Dynasty Bill’ in Senate.
“May I remind Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who appears to have a short-term memory, that it was him whom my family supported against my cousin, Jana Ejercito, in the 2013 elections. In that same election also did I emphasize, through an open letter to San Juaneños, the importance of choosing qualified people in public office compared to popular people or those with political affiliations,” said Ejercito.
“The accusations Francis Zamora hurled at the rival camp are twisted since this rift has never been about the continuation of political families in power in San Juan. This is a falling out because of trust,” the senator said.
“We discovered that the Zamoras have been acting behind our back since 2013. Francis has since planned to run against Mayor Guia Gomez in the 2016 elections. We have no problem with competition. But we would’ve appreciated if Francis had been frank with his ambition,” said Ejercito.