MANILA, Philippines—Senator Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito was a no-show at the office of his half-brother, acting Senate President Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who was expecting a courtesy call from the neophyte lawmaker in the Senate on Thursday.
“I thought he (Ejercito) was coming but unfortunately, meron yata siyang ibang lakad (he has another engagement),” Estrada told reporters.
“I was expecting him to come over but I received words that he has an equally important things to do,” he said.
Estrada earlier told some reporters that Ejercito would pay a courtesy call on him at his office at around 2 p.m. Thursday.
It was the acting Senate President who “advised” Ejercito through a common friend to pay a courtesy call on him since many neophyte senators had visited him at his office.
The newly-elected senators who paid a visit to Estrada were Ma. Lourdes “Nancy” Binay, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, and Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.
Before the scheduled visit at his office , Estrada said he and Ejercito were together when the newly-formed minority bloc in the Senate met at the Office of the Vice President in Pasay City.
And before boarding his vehicle, Estrada said his brother told him that he would go to his office along with Senator Binay for the planned courtesy call.
Asked if he was offended by Ejercito’s no-show, Estrada said, “Hindi naman. Wala tayong magagawa e meron syang ibang lakad (Not really. We can’t do anything about it he has another engagement).”
Estrada and Ejercito, both sons of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with different women, have been perceived to be at odds due to sibling rivalry.