San Juan Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Their rivalry now purportedly settled, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada is set to join the United Nationalist Alliance’s campaign sorties to personally endorse the candidacy of his half-brother, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito.
That’s according to their father, former President Joseph Estrada, who said he had patched things up between his sons in a heart-to-heart talk last year.
“Wala na yun. Tampuhan lang ng magkapatid yun (It’s nothing. Just two brothers squabbling),” he told the Inquirer in an interview at his Polk Street residence in San Juan.
Estrada made it clear that Jinggoy would speak on stage and campaign for JV in one of the UNA sorties. He said it was possible that he and his sons would be available during the long Mindanao leg of the UNA campaign that will kick off Saturday in Bukidnon.
“Yes,” he repeatedly replied when asked about these scenarios.
To show that all’s well now between his two sons, he noted the presence of JV during Jinggoy’s 50th birthday celebration last Feb. 16.
Last November, the conflict came to a boil when Jinggoy denounced JV for purportedly touching on their “sibling rivalry” in a provincial press conference.
JV promptly apologized to his “kuya” Jinggoy, but their father chose to sit down with them one Sunday.
That’s when the 75-year-old Estrada said he warned his sons in Filipino: “Ok, continue with your squabbling so I’ll die earlier.” Both sons kept quiet, he recalled.
But besides the so-called sibling rivalry, the Estradas are confronted by the issue of political dynasty.
“What dynasty?” the elder Estrada asked. “The choice is still with the people. That’s democracy.”
Should JV win, he would join his half-brother in the 24-member Senate for at least three years. And it’s not that they would be alone.
A victory by UNA’s Jack Enrile would mean he would be with his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in the same chamber. At present there are already two Cayetanos in the Senate, Alan and Pia. Alan Cayetano is seeking another term under the administration ticket, which also includes President Aquino’s cousin Bam.