Senator JV Ejercito INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Blood is thicker than water, after all, for Senator JV Ejercito, who has been at odds with his half-brother Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada.
“It’s public knowledge that we have our differences before, hopefully (in these times of trouble) mabawasan naman yun. Doon naman malalaman kung sino ang totoong kasama lalo na ’pag ikaw ay may problema,” Ejercito said of Estrada, who was charged with plunder for allegedly receiving kickbacks from Janet Lim-Napoles.
“Whatever differences we may have, kapatid ko pa rin yun, kadugo ko,” he said.
The two senators, sons of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to different women, have been reported to have siblings’ rivalry.
Ejercito said he would be willing to give his advice if his brother would seek for it but at this point, he said, he and other members of the minority bloc in the Senate could only give their moral support for their colleagues who have been implicated in the “pork barrel” scam.
Aside from Estrada, Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. were also charged with plunder at the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged misused of their priority development assistance fund (PDAF).
Ejercito said they were not only saddened but were also demoralized of the perceived persecution of their colleagues.
In fact, he said, he was worried when he read the news that the Senate might abort its investigation into the P10-billion pork barrel scam after the charges were filed at the Ombudsman against several personalities.
“I’d say that terminating the blue ribbon hearing right now will just confirm the apprehension that they are being very selective,” Ejercito said.
He said the Senate should continue with the investigation to allow those innocent to clear their names and “for those who are really involved to face the music.”