Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday claimed some San Juan City residents are being “terrorized” by Mayor Francis Zamora’s “vindictive” leadership.
Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado forum, Ejercito accused the mayor of presenting two sides of his character — one that appears to be “soft-spoken” and one that is vengeful.
It was Zamora who ended the 50-year grip of the Estrada clan over San Juan when he was elected city mayor in 2019.
The political rift between the camps was only ignited by Ejercito’s recent exposé surrounding an alleged corruption in the city’s social aid programs.
“People are being terrorized, lalo na ‘yung super political. Kasi malayong malayo. Very deceiving kasi,” said Ejercito.
(People are being terrorized, especially those who are super political. It’s too far. It’s very deceiving.)
“Si Mayor Zamora, kapag nagsalita, soft spoken [at] akala mo napakabait,” the senator observed.
(Mayor Zamora, when he speaks, he seems to be soft-spoken [and] you’ll think that he is very kind.)
“Para itong pelikula lang eh. Kapag nasa on cam… Kaya lang, off cam, naaawa ako doon sa mga tao,” he went on.
(It’s just like a movie. When it’s on cam… However, off-cam, I feel sorry for the people there.)
“Ang sabi ko nga sa kanya, tayo na lang ang mag away [at] kawawa naman ‘yung mga tao,” he added.
(I told him, let us just fight between us, and the people are suffering.)
According to the senator, he was very hesitant to expose the alleged corruption in San Juan at first, knowing that “people get oppressed” every time he speaks.
He said he only exposed it because of the gravity of the situation.
“I think I also brought up the issue of City employees or Department heads that after 3 years, their terminal leave is still not being given, which is money that is theirs,” Ejercito recalled.
“As we are speaking right now, there are about 11 more out of the 30 plus who have yet to receive it,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“So you can see the pattern of his vindictiveness,” Ejercito added.
In the same forum, Zamora was likewise urged by Ejercito to spare the people from their families’ political rift.
“Magandang magkaharap harap tayo. Ang apila ko lang, sana kami na lang ang magbangayan sa politika,” the senator said.
(It will be good if we confront each other face to face. My only appeal is that I wish we would just spare the people from politics.)
INQUIRER.net has sought Zamora’s comment on Ejercito’s remarks and allegations, but he has yet to respond as of press time.