Sen. JV Ejercito. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–If his father were in the same situation as his half-brother, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he would still sign a senate committee report recommending the filing of charges against former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
“Depende sa sitwasyon. Siguro kung ganito rin, I would have signed (It depends on the situation. Given the same circumstances, I would have signed.),” Ejercito said Tuesday night when Ces Drilon, host of ABS-CBN’s Bandila, asked if the senator would sign a committee report if it was Mayor Estrada who was found liable for plunder in the pork barrel scam.
“I have my responsibility to my family but I also have my obligation as a public official,” he said.
When Ejercito signed the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report on the pork barrel scam, Ejercito said Senator Estrada was hurt.
Ejercito reiterated that he signed the report “with reservations,” citing he was not convinced with the senate committee report and insisted it should continue its investigation to investigate the other lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scam.
He said he does not have any regret signing the report.
He said he is pained to see his brother in detention, but has elected to visit him only when the situation gets better.
He said he prefers house arrest of his half-brother Estrada, and Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile who are also implicated in the pork barrel scam, citing they are still not convicted of any crime.
The senator urged President Benigno Aquino III to be fair in the investigation of his allies who have been implicated in the misuse of public funds.
On Monday, Estrada surrendered at Camp Crame in Quezon City and has since been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center on charges of graft and plunder for allegedly pocketing P183 million in kickbacks from businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged brains behind the pork barrel scam.
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