MANILA, Philippines--Like a marriage gone sour, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay confirmed Friday the parting of ways between him and Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who is reportedly leaving the Binay camp to run for mayor next year.

“I was sad when I learned he would no longer be with us,” Binay told Inquirer after the unveiling of his photo-mosaic image at the University of Makati.

Early this month, speculations about infighting within the Binay camp were further fueled when Mercado, his vice mayor for nine years, was not seen at the mayor’s recent birthday celebration.

Binay had previously declared Mercado as his bet for mayor, and his son, Councilor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay as vice mayor.

The mayor, on the other hand, is leaving his post after serving for more than 20 years, to run as vice president in 2010.

Asked if Mercado would run as an independent, Binay said all that he knew was that the vice mayor would run “without our support.”

Reports are now circulating that Mercado would team up instead with Erwin Genuino, the 28-year-old son of Pagcor chief Efraim Genuino.

A source confirmed that Mercado, through a third party, informed Binay on Tuesday of his decision to leave their group.

Binay said that with the changing political landscape, it was possible his councilor-son would be pitted against Mercado.

“We said from the very start that Junjun would be running as vice mayor. But if my vice mayor is with someone else, then I guess that would be the consequence of our separation,” the mayor added.

The Makati mayor, however, said his group could reconcile with Mercado.

“I’m still hoping we could patch up our differences before the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC),” he added.

The Binay camp is expected to file their COCs on Dec. 1, the last day for filing.