Senator JV Ejercito is now considering joining the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) instead of the ruling Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban.
Initially, Ejercito wanted to join PDP-Laban until his political rivals in San Juan City became officials of the party.
READ: Ejercito eyes slot in PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate
“Naisip ko lang lang parang hindi magandang tingnan kung sakaling magtuloy nga kaming magkapatid na sabay na tatakbo tapos isa ang aming partido so it would not look good,” he said, referring to his half-brother, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
(I just think, it would not look good that we’ll both run (for senator) and under one party so it would not look good.)
Ejercito and Estrada both belong to the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino being headed by their father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
“Kakausapin ko si Mayor Erap syempre party head, magpapaalam din ako, tatay ko yun. I just hope he’ll understand the circumstances na hindi talaga maganda tingnan na magkapatid sabay kamign tatakbo at iisa ang partido,” Ejercito said.
(I will talk to Mayor Erap of course as party head, I will ask for permission, he’s my father. I just hope he’ll understand the circumstances that it would really not look good if we’ll we’ll both run under one party.)
“Kung meron akong lilipatan, pinaka komportable akso sa NPC (If I will transfer, I am more comfortable with t NPC),” Ejercito added.
He also expressed gratitude that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago had indicated that it would support his reelection bid next year.
“I’m quite confident that this will be the right combination —NPC and Hugpong—for my reelection,” said Ejercito.
He said he hopes to take his oath with NPC by August.
Asked if the recent squabble within PDP-Laban was a factor why he was no longer joining the group, Ejercito said: “Kasi ang hirap nang makisama na sa gulo. Dati kung kami mabagal na kapulungan, ayoko naman sa magulong kapulungan…”
Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s earlier branded the Senate as “mabagal na kapulungan” or a slow congress. /vvp