Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito during one of the Senate hearings and investigations. Voltaire F. Domingo / Senate PRIB file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito on Monday called on San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to reconsider the plan to relocate monuments of national heroes in the city.
Ejercito called this a “national issue” as he expressed dismay over the plan of the local government to transfer the statues honoring Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and Jose Rizal to the Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine where he said it is hidden from public view.
“Ako’y nakikiusap kay Mayor Francis at sa NHCP, pag-isipan niyo nang husto iyan…Nakikiusap ako kay Mayor Francis. Hindi bale na, tatanggapin ko na lahat ng ginagawa niyong pangbebengga. Burahin niyo na lahat ng pwedeng mabura na proyekto pero huwag naman ito,” he said in a news conference.
(I am appealing to Mayor Francis and the NHCP to think about this thoroughly…I am asking Mayor Francis. It doesn’t matter, I’ll take all your criticisms. You can remove all our projects that you want to remove but not this one.)
Ejercito, who was mayor of San Juan from 2001 to 2010, said he thinks this could be a way to wipe out any trace of his projects when he headed the city government.
The senator said he is also mulling filing a resolution to ask the NHCP about their supposed involvement in the controversial plan.
He noted that Zamora had explained that it was the NHCP’s suggestion to relocate the national heroes’ monuments.
“Gusto kong makausap iyong head ng NHCP kung totoo nga ito. Dahil kung totoo nga ito, pasensya na, pero napakatanga naman niya. Sa ibang bansa, landmarks are given importance. Iyan ang source of pride, dini-display. Talagang nabubuhay ang nasyonalismo. Bakit itatago…Ang sa akin, kung may kinalaman ang NHCP, they have to explain it,” Ejercito said.
(I want to speak with the NHCP head to ask if this is true. Because if it is true then, I’m sorry, he must be so stupid. In other countries, landmarks are given importance. This is a source of pride. It should be displayed. Nationalism is truly thriving. So why hide it…For me, if the NHCP has something to do with this, they have to explain it.)
‘This is too much’
Asked if he sees politics behind the relocation move, Ejercito said Zamora should not invoke the argument that the sharp calls he is making are politically motivated since the historic monuments at issue are “vital pieces of history and pride as a nation.”
“Tinitiis ko na nga lang iyong karamihan ng ginagawa nila para huwag maapektuhan iyong ating mga kababayan kaya lang medyo sobra na ito,” he said.
(I’m putting up with many of the things they’re doing so as not to affect our compatriots but this is a little too much.)
Ejercito cited other initiatives that he had started during his mayoralty such as upgrading police cars and fire trucks which, he said, had also been “junked” by the San Juan government.
“Binabanggit ko lang ito para masabi na talagang mukhang may kinalaman [sa pulitika],” he pressed.
(I’m just mentioning this because I want to say that it seems like politics is involved here.)
INQUIRER.net has sought reactions from Zamora on the issue, but he has yet to respond as of this posting.
Tracing the Ejercito-Zamora feud
This is not the first time Ejercito and Zamora are clashing before the public, albeit indirectly.
In February, Ejercito claimed that the San Juan government still owes around 20 retired City Hall workers terminal pay amounting to P40 million.
READ: San Juan owes retired workers P40 million in terminal pay – Ejercito
Zamora later clapped back at Ejercito, saying the senator’s accusation was “politically motivated and preposterous.”
The local chief executive noted that 122 of the claims that had been released were for appointees and hires of the Ejercito-Estrada clan during their 50-year control over San Juan which, he said, proves that “there is no bias in the selection process as to who will receive their benefits.”
In 2019, Zamora ended the five-decade reign of the powerful political family when he defeated then-incumbent mayor Janella Ejercito-Estrada in the mayoral race.
READ: The collapse of 2 Estradas
Among those from the Ejercito-Estrada bloodline who had likewise sat at the helm of the San Juan government were Ejercito’s mother Guia Gomez and his half brother Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
The very first in their family to hold the post was their patriarch – former President Joseph Estrada.