JV says; Jinggoy says
UP for reelection in 2019, Senator JV Ejercito is still hopeful there will only be one candidate coming from their family. The possibility of two Ejercito Estradas gunning for the top legislative level emerged as early as September 2017 when the incumbent senator’s half-brother, former senator Jinggoy Ejercito was released on bail in connection to the P10-billion pork barrel scam involving Janet Napoles.
Innocent until proven guilty, it is within Estrada’s right to run for office, especially as he has consistently and categorically denied any wrong- doing since the beginning of the controversial plunder case.
“Honestly, mas maganda sana kung isa
lang sa amin ang tatakbo so there will be better chances of winning, kaysa kung
dalawa kami,” stated Ejercito who has publicly backed the Anti- Dynasty Bill.
“I know that my father’s name has given me an advantage in politics but given that the Philippine population is now in the hundred-million, I believe that others who can be very capable leaders, without political surnames, should be given the chance to serve the country.”
Seeking reelection specifically to pursue his advocacy for a national railway system (see main story), Ejercito added he simply wants to see this much-needed development for the country realized and implemented.
However, in speaking by chance with Estrada when he accompanied daughter Janella, San Juan City’s incumbent Vice Mayor, to a press conference on Wednesday, the former senator recalled a statement which Ejercito gave upon his release from Camp Crame.
“When I got out, I remember he gave a press statement, which said if I decide to run for the Senate, he will make the supreme sacrifice of not running,” Estrada pointed out. “So let’s wait and see, but if you ask me, there’s no problem if we both run. I can work with anybody. I can work with him as I have done before.”
The older Estrada was still in the Senate completing his second term when Ejercito was elected in 2013.
While a family drama seems to be brewing between former president and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s eldest son by wife Loi Ejercito Estrada and only child by San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, Sen. JV is hopeful their father will intervene to help them make the right decision.