Ejercito bids goodbye to Senate: I hope to be back soon

MANILA, Philippines — Set to leave the Senate, outgoing senator JV Ejercito said he hopes to be back at the higher chamber of Congress “soon.”

Addressing his Senate “seatmates” during his valedictory speech, Ejercito asked them to keep his seat warm as he hopes to be back soon.

“Please keep that seat warm for me. I hope to be back soon,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito served one term at Senate, and his term is set to expire on June 30 after failing his re-election bid in the 2019 polls.

Despite serving only one term, Ejercito believes he has done his job as a legislator as best as he can.

“Today as I leave the Senate, I would like to think that I have fulfilled the mandate of the people. I would like to think that I have done my job as best as I could, as honestly as I can demanded of a public servant,” he said.

He cited the 379 bills he authored and co-authored, 17 of which were signed into law. He particularly noted the passage of Universal Health Care law, which he was the main sponsor and the co-author.

“Ang dati nating pinapangarap na libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan ay abot kaya na,” he added.

He conveyed messages to each of his colleagues, as well as messages to his family.

“It’s been a pleasure serving all of you. Maraming maraming salamat sa pagkakataong ito,” Ejercito said.

“Siguro for the last time, the ‘good one’ is signing off. But not for long. Hopefully, I will see you very soon,” he added. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)