JV Ejercito backs Duterte pick for top Senate post

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito. Screengrabbed from INQUIRER.net FILE VIDEO

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito gave his backing on Monday to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s candidate for Senate President in the 17th Congress.

Ejercito, who backed Senator Grace Poe’s presidential bid in the recently concluded May 9 national elections, said he met with Duterte three weeks ago and the latter had endorsed a candidate for the highest post in the chamber.

“May inendorso sya pero secret muna, sa amin na lang daw muna (He has endorsed [a candidate] but he would like to keep it a secret between us for now)… I’d give him all the support that he would need,” the senator said of Duterte.

“I’d give weight to whom President Duterte would endorse,” he added.

Ejercito, who belongs to outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, said that this time, he would like to be a part of the majority bloc in the Senate.

“Gusto ko naman sigurong makatikim kung paano ang nasa itaas, hindi pa ako nakakatikim ng administration e lagi akong opposition (I would like to be part of the administration because I’ve always been with the opposition). Since 2001 na nag-mayor ako hanggang ngayon (Since 2001 when I have become a mayor until now), I’ve always been with the opposition…” he said.

Reminded that his colleague in the minority bloc, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is also being considered as a candidate for Senate President, Ejercito said he hopes that there would just be a “super majority” or “super coalition” in the chamber.

“Sana magkaroon na ng super majority (I hope there would be a super majority). Sabi naman ni (Senator Tito) (As Senator Tito said), he’s forming a coalition in support of the incoming administration so kung pwedeng magkaroon ng super coalition muna (if there would be super coalition) as of the moment, that will be nice kasi ang hirap din (because it’s difficult)…for the past three years, I have been with the minority,” he lamented.

For his part, Sotto said it has become “very clear” now how the new Senate would shape up.

“Medyo konting kinks na lang ang inaayos (There are few kinks being addressed),” he said in a separate interview. He did not elaborate. RAM

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