Ejercito ‘puzzled’ by non-inclusion in Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate JV Ejercito admitted Monday he was “puzzled” by his non-inclusion in the slate of the tandem of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio given his good relationship with them.

Ejercito pointed out his working relationship with Marcos Jr., saying the two of them have been together in the Senate for three years and passed the SK reform law. The senatorial candidate, meanwhile, called Duterte-Carpio his “friend.”

“I was really also puzzled that I was not included given the fact that I had good relationships with them,” Ejercito said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Ejercito also noted that his father, former president Joseph Estrada, was also “one of those last men to leave Malacañang” when Marcos Jr.’s father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was ousted following the EDSA Revolution.

“My father was one of those last men to leave Malacañang in 1986, and my mother was a certified loyalist during those times and we’ve (Marcos and I) been friends for a long time,” Ejercito said.

Aside from his personal relationship with Marcos and Duterte-Carpio, Ejercito also said he has a “decent performance” in the Senate, adding that he is a not a “baggage” to any presidential candidate that endorses him.

“I have decent performance in Senate having passed two landmark legislations—the Universal Healthcare Law and the creation of the Department of Human Settlements, among others,” Ejercito said.

“And I have a clean track record. Hindi ako baggage sa kahit na sinong mag-endorso at magdala sa akin kasi malinis ang track record ko. I have an unblemished track record in public service, in 18 years of being a public servant,” he added.

Ejercito is currently included in the senatorial slate of presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson. Presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso also raised Ejercito’s hands during his rally in Manila over the weekend.

READ: Lacson-Sotto tandem bares 10 senatorial bets for 2022

Relationship with Jinggoy

Among those included in the Marcos-Duterte senatorial line-up is Ejercito’s half-brother, Jinggoy Estrada.

The sibling feud has been going on for years, with their father even saying at one time that the quarrel between the half brothers was one of his greatest frustrations.

READ: JV says he’s more eligible to run for Senate than Jinggoy

“Probably it’s because of the concept of UniTeam, that different parties have joined together to form unity… I think that’s the primary consideration why he was chosen instead of me,” Ejercito said when asked about Jinggoy’s inclusion in the Marcos-Duterte slate.

READ: JV, Jinggoy, old enough to settle feud — Estrada

“It has its pros and cons. I think it turned out to be a blessing because I am able to elaborate more on my platforms, programs, and accomplishments unlike in 2019 when we were together in Hugpong [ng Pagbabago], what was really highlighted was the sibling rivalry,” he added.

Jinggoy is part of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino while Ejercito is part of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. However, in 2019, the siblings both ran—and lost—for senatorial seat under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Asked if he has spoken with Jinggoy, Ejercito said “not at this time.”

“We’re both busy in our own sorties,” Ejercito said.

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