JV Ejercito defends Jinggoy Estrada: He probably forgot

MANILA, Philippines–If there’s anyone good at avoiding conflict in the family, it’s probably Sen. JV Ejercito.

Asked why he thought Sen. Jinggoy Estrada did not mention him in his farewell speech on Wednesday, Ejercito told reporters after Independence Day rites at Pinaglabanan Shrine in San Juan City all sorts of reasons that appeared to absolve his half-brother from what many would believe to have been a “dastardly” act.

“Uh, maybe he just forgot, or maybe he didn’t see me,” Ejercito said, eliciting laughter from reporters. “He just focused too much on his speech because I was just in front.”

Ejercito said that “usually, whoever was near you, you didn’t see.”

He reiterated that maybe Estrada just forgot him.

Estrada and Ejercito are sons of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada by two different women. Both have admitted that they are not on good terms.

‘It will take time’

Even while Ejercito seemed to be quick in defending his half-brother with his replies, he said “it would probably take time” for Sen. Bong Revilla’s wish to come true.

“In the short time we have been together, I’ve seen your heart is like your father’s. I only have one wish, I hope you and your brother patch things up,” Revilla said in his own farewell privilege speech last week.

Revilla, Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile have been indicted in the Sandiganbayan for plunder in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. They are facing arrest.

The Office of the Ombudsman has charged that Revilla amassed P224.512 million in kickbacks from 2006 to 2010; Estrada, P183.795 million from 2004 to 2012; and Enrile, P172.834 million from 2003 to 2010.

Sad

“Of course we respect (Revilla) and in fact his speech was moving where he said thank you to all his companions. And his wish, maybe it will take time,” Ejercito said.

He said “maybe in time” Estrada would feel that he was “sincere.”

Although they were not on good terms “so far,” Ejercito said he was “sad” for Estrada’s predicament.

“I get affected of course when I see his family,” he said.

Asked whether he agreed with Estrada’s statement that there was selective justice in the government’s prosecution of those supposedly involved in the pork barrel scam, he said, “Maybe.”

Signed with reservation

“I signed the blue ribbon committee report but I wrote down a reservation because I think the committee investigation of the (pork barrel) scam should continue. It just focused on eight nongovernment organizations of Janet Napoles, but based on a (Commission on Audit) report the suspected NGOs reached 80,” he said.

“So, if we really want our government to be serious about knowing the entire truth, we should (investigate) all (NGOs). Whether or not an ally would be affected, we should know the entire truth,” he said.

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