President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, have staked out opposing sides in one of Metro Manila’s most heated political battles—the race for San Juan mayor, which pits two of the city’s most influential clans against each other.
The presidential daughter trooped to San Juan on Wednesday to support the full slate of incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito, days after Mr. Duterte endorsed her toughest rival, former Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who is running under the President’s PDP-Laban party.
Double-purpose rally
The event also doubled as a campaign rally for senatorial candidates backed by Mayor Sara’s regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), including two former San Juan mayors—reelectionist Sen. JV Ejercito and former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
Estrada, Vice Mayor Janella’s father, was recently dropped from Mr. Duterte’s Senate lineup.
“[Mr. Duterte] is the highest public official in the land. He’s allowed his personal choice of candidates,” Mayor Sara told reporters after the event.
“The President is a different entity from me and HNP. There is no tension, we just have different choices,” she added.
Janella said what while she was thankful for Mayor Sara’s endorsement, she continued to support Mr. Duterte despite his endorsement of Zamora.