Ejercito admits not getting any financial help from Erap

LIPA CITY, Batangas – Senator JV Ejercito admitted that he has not received financial support for his senatorial campaign from his father Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada

Ejercito, in an interview here Saturday, said he has not been given any support by his father since he left Erap’s political party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

“Hindi eh, galit siya sa akin dahil umalis ako sa partido namin, nagtampo, zero (No, he was mad at me for I left our (political) party, he got sulk, zero budget),” the senator revealed.

Ejercito said he left and moved to Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) because he felt that it was going to be awkward environment that two members of one family will be running for the same position, citing his half-brother former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

He revealed that running against his sibling even made him think twice of seeking re-election.

However, he also thought that his good track record as a public servant would be good enough for him to be re-elected.

Ejercito said he was glad that President Rodrigo Duterte has shown support for his campaign, believing that the president was acknowledging his accomplishments in terms of public service.

When asked about his comment on Duterte’s dropping of his support for Jinggoy, Ejercito said: “Desisyon ng pangulo yun, respetuhin na lang natin (That was president’s decision let’s just respect it).”

Ejercito cited the approved Senate Bill 1896 or Universal Health Care (UHC) Program Bill as one of his major contributions which seeks to provide automatic insurance for every Filipino and improve the health care system in the country.

“This will pave the way for an honest to goodness genuine health care system for all Filipinos,” he said.

He also shared his advocacy of pushing for transportation and infrastructure modernization through the improvement of the railway system that will ease traffic congestion and definitely boost investments in the country.

He said Luzon’s growth triangle linking ports in Subic, Clark, Manila and Batangas by railway system will bring inclusive economic growth in Luzon and create 30 to 40 million jobs for Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Luzon and National Capital Region (NCR).

Ejercito joined the Lipa Love Fest concert here where he was endorsed by Senator Ralph Recto and wife, Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto to thousands of Lipeños.