A blow to Bayanihan: JV Ejercito hits San Juan City’s donation rule

Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (left) and Francis Zamora. Photo from Senate PRIB/Francis Zamora Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito slammed a San Juan City rule on aid distribution and visits to evacuation centers, calling it “unjust” and a clear form of “abuse of power.”

Issued on Monday, September 2, San Juan City Ordinance No. 26-2024 mandates that all donations from private and public individuals, governments, or non-governmental organizations for disaster victims must go through the Office of the Mayor to ensure that it is recorded and reported properly.

It also requires visitors or donors who wish to enter the evacuation centers to obtain an entry permit from the Office of the Mayor to ensure order in the evacuation site, as well as the safety of the evacuees.

The city ordinance further imposes a penalty of P5,000 for violators.

READ: Jinggoy Estrada questions San Juan City’s new ordinance on evacuation centers

But Ejercito, who served as mayor of San Juan for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010, found this local law discouraging for people who only want to help.

“Ang pagpapataw ng multa sa mga nais tumulong ay hindi makatarungan at isang malinaw na anyo ng pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan. Sa halip na hikayatin ang bayanihan, pinipigil pa nito ang mga nagmamalasakit na magbigay ng ayuda sa nangangailangan,” Ejercito said in a statement Tuesday.

(The decision to penalize those who only wanted to help is unjustified and a clear form of abuse of power. Instead of encouraging bayanihan, this discourages those eager to help and extend aid, especially those in need.)

Ejercito also said it is alarming that San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora wants to control aid distribution when help “should always be open” and freely given “without any kind of manipulation.”

He said local government’s attention should focus on the well-being of its constituents rather than promoting personal and political interests.

Ejercito recalled his “previous experience” when he struggled to help San Juan City residents for about two years because the local government did not allow it.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na haluan ng pulitika at pagka-benggador ang pagbibigay ng ayuda para sa mga taga-San Juan. San Juaneños deserve better,” said Ejercito.

(It is unacceptable to involve politics in aid distribution to San Juan City residents. San Juaneños deserve better.)

READ: Zamora fires back at Ejercito, rejects ‘vindictive’ tag

Even before this, Ejercito’s brother, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who also served as mayor of San Juan for three terms from 1992 to 2001, questioned City Ordinance No. 26-2024. He called the rule ridiculous and unreasonable.

INQUIRER.net has contacted Zamora to comment on the remarks of Ejercito and Estrada, but he has yet to reply as of this writing.

Aside from Ejercito and Estrada, their father, former President Joseph Estrada ruled San Juan City from 1969 to 1986. Ejercito’s mother, Guia Gomez, also served as mayor of the city from 2010-2019.

Zamora ended the 50-year grip of the Estrada clan over San Juan City when he won the 2019 local elections.