JV Ejercito mends fences with Arroyo ex-allies in UNA senatorial slate

CABANATUAN CITY– San Juan Representative JV Ejercito, who is eyeing a senatorial seat in the 2013 midterm elections, said he has mended fences with allies of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo running under the Untied Nationalist Alliance.

San Juan Representative JV Ejercito. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Ejercito, who was in Nueva Ecija for consultations on Wednesday, said he was willing to run alongside Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay and former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

“Okay na kami [We’re okay]. The Magsaysays have always been friends to the [Ejercito-Estrada] family,” he said.

While he admitted being was uncomfortable running with Zubiri, Ejercito said he was accepting him in the ticket.

“I have no issue against [Zubiri] now despite being uncomfortable with him before because of his actions in the past,” he said, referring to the Arroyo administration’s move to jail his father, former President Joseph Estrada.

Ejercito said he was among the first people who opposed the idea of running with any Arroyo ally but that a public apology by Zubiri, when he took his oath as member of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino in preparation for his inclusion to the UNA ticket, changed his perspective.

“It’s a humble gesture. He humbled himself and it would be difficult not to forgive him,” he said.

Ejercito said he wanted Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to run with UNA but could not do anything to solve Pimentel’s rift with Zubiri.

Pimentel had filed an election protest against Zubiri, the 12th placer in the 2007 senatorial elections, alleging that the Bukidnon legislator cheated and deprived him of the seat that rightfully belonged to him.

Zubiri resigned last year after evidence of election fraud surfaced and a recount showed Pimentel ahead of him. This paved the way for Pimentel to assume his seat in the Senate and serve the remainder of Zubiri’s term.

Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, has rejected Zubiri’s inclusion in the UNA ticket.

Ejercito said he understood Pimentel’s situation. “Sabi ko sa kanya, mas maganda sana kung tayo ay sabay na tatakbo. Alam ko mahirap ang sitwasyon. Nakikita ko medyo malungkot siya, medyo talagang hindi niya matanggap daw [I told him that I prefer that we run together. I know the situation is difficult. I can see that this saddens him but he told me he cannot accept this situation],” he said.