JV to use ‘Estrada’ as nickname in 2019 polls

As promised, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito had included Estrada in his nickname in his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2019 polls.

Ejercito earlier said he might use the surname of his father, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, in filing his certificate of candidacy (COC), but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said this may confuse voters as his brother Jinggoy could also run for senator.

READ: JV Ejercito eyes running as ‘Estrada’ for 2019 polls

“If you look at my COC in 2013, ginaya lang po namin para walang mali. Ang nakalagay po doon na nickname ay ‘Estrada JV’ (We just copied it to avoid mistakes. The nickname written there is ‘Estrada JV’),” he told reporters.

Ejercito said he included the surname of his father as a nickname in the ballot to show him that he remains his son even after he left his father’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino to join the Nationalist People’s Coalition of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto.

“One thing is for sure, I will always be the son of my father,” he said.

Ejercito added that he “does not wish to elaborate” on his looming competition with Jinggoy Estrada in the Senate.

He stressed that he wants to run in the elections not to compete with anybody, but to seek a second term as senator. /ee

READ: JV Ejercito files COC for senator in 2019 elections