JV Ejercito says Enrile backs minority group’s anti-SONA draft speech

Sen. JV Ejercito. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—In his visit to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s hospital ward on Wednesday morning, Senator JV Ejercito said they talked about the “anti-SONA (State of the Nation Address)” speech the Senate minority group is drafting and the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

Ejercito said in a press briefing after his 45-minute visit at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital that he discussed with the 90-year-old senator, who he said looked frail, the minority’s plans of disputing President Benigno Aquino III’s speech on July 28.

“I asked him: ‘Is it OK if we draft an anti-SONA (speech)?’” Ejercito said in Filipino.

He said Enrile then replied: “Tama ‘yan (That’s right).”

Ejercito also recalled telling Enrile his desire to become “more active” at the Senate in view of the shallow bench of the minority group in the chamber.

Of the six minority members, including Senators Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Gringo Honasan, two of its members, Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, have been detained after being charged with plunder case.

Ejercito told Enrile: “Manong, noong isang taon, anim ho tayo. Ngayon, dahil kayo at si Senator Jinggoy naka-detain na, apat na lang ho kaming naiwan sa minority tapos yung dalawa may kaso pa. Manong, gusto ko sanang maging mas aktibo.”

Ejercito said they also tackled national security, specifically  the West Philippine Sea dispute.

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