Jamora denies alliance with Gonzalez
Iloilo City mayoralty candidate Larry Jamora yesterday denied rumors of an alleged alliance being forged between him and the camp of former DOJ Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.
In an interview with the media at his office yesterday, Jamora said, “the rumors have no basis, as of today.”
Jamora said reports about the alleged alliance may have stemmed from the fact that the two of them were both seen at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel in Manila last Sunday. Jamora described the chance encounter as pure coincidence. Jamora said he was there to meet with former colleagues in Malacañang, including former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap who is also running for a congressional seat.
Jamora said the EDSA Shangrila was a common place for meetings since it is very near his place of residence and also the residence of the Gonzalezes. “We often saw each other there,” said Jamora.
At the same time, Jamora also noted that people may have suspected something brewing between as they were often seen whispering to each other during the series of publicly held candidates forums in the past two weeks. “We were just comparing notes,” said Jamora.
Jamora noted that an alliance would be unfair to both sides. “He has his own candidates for other positions, we also have ours,” Jamora stressed. “What will happen to them if there indeed an alliance? That would be unfair.”
At the same time, however, Jamora did not fully turn his back to the possibility of getting support from the Gonzalez camp. “With the great number of Punong Barangays on their side, that would be a plus factor,” he said.
Jamora said he was told that the elder Gonzalez has been heard telling his leaders and followers, “kon indi gid man kamo sa akon, kay Larry na lang kamo (If you really won’t go for me, go for Larry.). In fact, during a recent candidates forum, Gonzalez was asked who he would vote for if he were not running for city mayor. His unhesitant reply: “Larry Jamora.
Besides, Jamora pointed out, he is on good terms with many of the Punong Barangays in the Gonzalez camp. “There is no animosity between us,” he said.
Finally, Jamora also noted that there is a lot of commonalities in their vision for the city. “For example,” Jamora said, “we both want to establish a city college and a city hospital.”
“If it (Jamora – Gonzalez alliance) is for the good of the city, why not?” Jamora said.
