Ejercito-Estrada, Honasan happy to be in Senate but saddened by partymates’ loss

Senator-elect Joseph Victor Ejercito. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – As he is happy that he has finally been proclaimed senator, Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada said Saturday that he also felt sad that most of his partymates failed to make it to the “Magic 12”.

“Of course relieved but of course you can’t help but be sad as well for your partymates who did their best . . .mixed feelings,” Estrada said in an ambush interview after his proclamation by the Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

He said his losing team mates in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) worked very hard during the campaign period unlike their rival team, the Liberal Party coalition who allegedly “took it easy.”

Nine candidates from the administration-backed Team PNoy won while three from UNA. Aside from Estrada, Nancy Binay and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan also made it.

The culmination of the senatorial elections was in favor of the administration backed coalition after nine of their candidates made it to Top 12, while only three from UNA made their way to the winning group.

Estrada was accompanied by his parents, incumbent San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, and Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Ejercito Estrada, and other relatives and supporters.

For his part, Honasan lauded Comelec for a job well done in general, saying that the body was able to pull it off despite the pressure it was getting from critics.

“In general, what Comelec did was laudable,” Honasan said in Filipino.

Like Estrada, Honasan was also saddened by the loss of his partymates.

“It’s sad because we’re all friends and what bound us to UNA was our belief I a common platform,” said Honasan who was in a tight race for 12^th place against another partymate, Richard “Dick” Gordon.