JV says he walks away from Senate with head held high

DAGUPAN CITY — Outgoing senator JV Ejercito said he would walk away from Congress with his head held high, and would look forward to working for the Duterte administration in either the health or transportation agencies.

Ejercito, who attended the inauguration of Mayor-elect Bryan Lim on Saturday (June 22), said he completed his term as senator with “my integrity intact and my head up high for which I am proud because the respect [for me] is still there.”

“Wala akong anomaly (I had no anomalies). I was able to leave a legacy, especially landmark laws like the Universal Health Care Law and the establishment of the Department of Human Settlements. Long after I am gone from politics, all Filipinos will benefit from these legislations,” he said.

Ejercito said he lost because he competed against his brother (Jinggoy Estrada), as well as senatorial candidates backed by President Duterte. The senator also said he did not get the endorsement of church group, Iglesia ni Cristo.

“But everything happens for a reason. Maybe this is what the Lord wants for me – to be able to spend more time with my family and to travel more. I just came from Toronto [in Canada] to visit some relatives, and next week I am going to eastern Europe for a motorcycle tour,” he said. (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)