JV Ejercito torn between Binay, Poe

Senator JV Ejercito. IMAGE BY RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.NET

Sen. JV Ejercito on Tuesday said he is in a quandary about whether to support Sen. Grace Poe or Vice President Jejomar Binay, who are now both emerging as the top contenders for the presidency in 2016.

Ejercito said that his family, including his father, deposed President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, would be facing a difficult decision in a presidential contest pitting Poe and Binay.

“We have not made the decision. If that happens, that would be a very difficult decision for us,” Ejercito said.

“I’m in a difficult situation also because both [Poe and Binay] are very close to me,” Ejercito told Senate reporters.

He said that his family owes a lot to Poe’s family, particularly the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

He said the ties between the Poes and Estradas “go way back.”

Ejercito said that he had heard that Binay would continue on with his presidential bid despite the mounting corruption allegations against him, “because by quitting that will be a sign or admission of guilt.”

He said he felt sorry for Binay as the issues against him had affected his survey ratings and hurt his family.

“I feel the family is suffering already. If you see your father’s name or your name three or four times a week in the headlines, that is very stressful,” he said.

But the senator, who is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance, believes that the political attacks against Binay would continue because “we have already entered the political season.”–Christine O. Avendaño