Incoming Sen. JV Ejercito on May 16 said he hopes to work with his half-brother, also incoming Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on a professional level.
“I hope it’s gonna be professional as long as it doesn’t get in our work, the personal. Perhaps, we might just work by ourselves,” said Ejercito.
Ejercito and Estrada landed on the 10th and 14th spots, respectively in the last senatorial race.
Both sons of former President Joseph Estrada, who remain at odds against each other, lost in the 2019 elections.
“I have to be honest; it will take time for our relationship to heal because there are a lot of things that happened, especially during this campaign,” related Ejercito. However, he refused to further go into details.
In the same interview, Ejercito said he is against political dynasties. He initially hesitated about running in last May’s elections.
“Frankly, I thought about it because I support the anti-dynasty bill. Because I personally believe that with more than 100 million Filipinos, there are a lot of people there who also want to serve, who are also capable,” he said.
“But do they have the name? Do they have the machinery and the means to get themselves elected?” Ejercito noted. ”
Ejercito said he had to weigh things against running.
He thought it would not really be good if two members from the same family work alongside each other.
But with the early implementation of the Housing department and the Universal Health Care Law — measures which he previously pushed as senator — he wanted to make sure that they are indeed benefitting the public especially amid the pandemic.
“I still believe there are a lot of people (out) there who are capable and who can serve but don’t have the means to get themselves elected,” added Ejercito.
Apart from Ejercito and Estrada, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano will join his elder sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano in the Upper Chamber.
The congressman, also a re-elected senator ranked seventh in the unofficial and partial count of the Comelec.
Former Public Works secretary Mark Villar will also be with her mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar in the Senate. He is sixth in the Magic 12 in the last senatorial elections.
The other winners for senators are Robin Padilla, Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Sherwin Gatchalian, Chiz Escudero, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joel Villanueva and Risa Hontiveros.
Meanwhile, Padilla said the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte, whose approval rating remains high, was a big factor for his leading the just-concluded senatorial race.
Padilla also attributed his being a frontrunner to support from Sen. Bong Go, the BBM-Sara UniTeam, the Iglesia NI Cristo and his Muslim brothers.
According to Padilla, his being number one came as a surprise. He said he was shocked.
“I have never thought this would happen, not even in my wildest dream,” stressed Padilla.
When he ran for senator, Padilla said he has no machinery, money, and resources to bankroll a nationwide campaign.
He only has his platform centered on pushing for a change in the country’s form of government under federal system. He believes there is nothing that can change the system unless there’s a change in the form of government.
The actor, who committed to represent the Muslims in the Upper Chamber, bested all the re-electionist senators and those staging a comeback.
Re-electionists who belonged to the “Winning Circle” are Gatchalian, Villanueva, Zubiri and Hontiveros.
Come-backing senators are Legarda, Escudero, Cayetano, Ejercito and Estrada.
Senators Leila de Lima and Richard Gordon, also seeking a fresh mandate in the Senate lost in their bids.
