Sen. JV Ejercito. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines— It has not been decided yet if only one of the sons of former President Joseph Estrada will run for the Senate in 2022 as he is keeping his hands off on their political plans to avoid any conflict.
Former senator JV Ejercito, nevertheless, declared his senatorial bid after consulting with his father, the former president, and his mother, former San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez.
In an online interview with reporters this Friday, Ejercito recalled his conversation with his father when he informed him of his decision to run for the Senate.
“Nagsabi naman ako although I have to be honest dun po issue na kung maging dalawa kami ay hindi ko na alam no, mukhang wala talaga desisyon na isa lang sa amin ang tatakbo. Syempre mabigat ding factor yun kung sakaling mangyayari,” he said, referring to the possible senatorial run of his brother, former Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.
(I informed him although I have to be honest that there is no decision yet on the issue in case two of us run. I don’t know, there is really no decision that only one of us is running. Of course, that would be a big factor if that happens)
Asked later if his senatorial run is with his father’s blessings, Ejercito said: “Talagang syempre sabi nya ayaw na nya makialam sa aming dalawa dahil kung kakampi sya sa isa sasama ang loob ng isa, kung kakampi sya ganun naman ang mangyayari.”
(Of course, he really doesn’t want to interfere with us. He doesn’t want to take sides also so no one gets hurt)
“Sabi nya bahala na kayo malalaki na kayo. Syempre kung gusto mo talaga yan, sige. Sinabi nya sige. Kung ano ang maitutulong ko sabihin mo na lang sa akin so siguro I get the signal na pumayag naman sya. Kumbaga, he respected my decision to run again for the Senate,” he said.
(He said it’s up to us. If you really want that, then go ahead. If I would need any help, he told me to just let him know. I think I got the signal that he approves of my decision. He respects my decision to run again for the Senate)
Ejercito said his mother also prefers that he runs for the Senate to pursue his advocacies rather than run for local posts.
“Preferably talaga, isa lang tatakbo tapos isa sa local kaya lang sinabi ko ang mommy ko ayaw na ako pabalikin ng local. Syempre hindi ko naman pwedeng hindi iconsider din yung decision ng mother ko dahil yun ang aming political leader sa San Juan at gusto nyang ituloy yung ginagawa ko sa Senado and she believes that I deserve to be in the Senate.”
(Preferably, only one should run [for the Senate] and one for local, but my mom does not want me to return to local. Of course, I can’t disregard the decision of my mother as she is our political leader in San Juan and she really wants me to continue with what I did in the Senate and she believes that I deserve to be in the Senate)
As much as possible, Ejercito said he does not want to dwell on the “rivalry” with his brother, noting how this issue had affected their respective candidacies in 2019.
Both Ejercito and Estrada ran and lost in the last senatorial race.