JV Ejercito: I’m a silent worker, not flamboyant

MANILA, Philippines – Senator JV Ejercito  on Thursday said he is facing an uphill battle in his reelection bid since he is not as flamboyant and famous as his other rivals but is, however,  a silent worker.

“Panay sikat talaga. Ang daming mas sikat sa atin,” Ejercito, who is running under the Hugpong ng  Pagbabago slate, said during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday.

(A lot of candidates are famous, popular, more popular than me.)

“I don’t  have that flamboyance siguro  but  I’m a silent worker,”  he said.

Ejercito also doubts   if his achievements during his six-year  term in the  Senate  would get  him votes, noting  how the  “popular” candidates continue to dominate the pre-election surveys.

“But nonetheless, I’m still proud, whatever happens proud ako sa peformance ko. Kung ano man ang mangyari, this will  be a lasting legacy,”  he said, citing in particular the  two measures he authored –  the Universal  Healthcare Law and  the creation of a housing department.

“Pero sana i-consider pa rin ng taumbayan  yun,”  the senator added.

Ejercito said that except for him, the six other reelectionist senators, shave a good chance of   winning – Senators  Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara,  Bam Aquino, Aqulino Pimentel III and Cynthia  Villar.

Ejercito noted that  he was  lagging behind in the surveys  but not because  he did not do anything or did not perform well but because of “circumstance.”

He did not elaborate.

“Talagang napakahirap. First time in  history but  hopefully I will be able  to  withstand and overcome the  odds. Iba e. Mabigat , kakaiba ito,” Ejercito  said.

His half-brother, former  Senator Jinggoy Estrada,  is  also  seeking a comeback in the Senate. / gsg