Is Jinggoy guilty? JV Ejercito: I can’t say

MANILA, Philippines – Does Senator JV Ejercito believe his brother is capable of plundering millions of pesos in taxpayers’ money?

While he signed the Senate report endorsing plunder charges against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Ejercito paused when confronted with the question on the character of his half-brother.

“Mahirap sagutin iyan. ‘Pag sinabi kong hindi, sasabihin ng mga tao sa social media, I am defending him outright. I just hope as a colleague, a brother, they’ll be given the chance to defend themselves,” Ejercito said in a press briefing on Thursday, May 22. (It’s hard to say. If I say no, people on social media will say I am defending him.)

In his answer, Ejercito summed up what he called the “hard, precarious” situation he is in after signing the Senate blue ribbon committee report. It was a decision even his father, former President Joseph Estrada initially questioned. Ejercito admitted that his judgment call “fueled” his long-running rivalry with Jinggoy.

Yet with Senator Estrada now facing possible arrest, Ejercito said he sympathizes with his brother. Again straddling duties to family and party, and public opinion, he gave a message for Estrada that was conciliatory but not quite. (READ: JV Ejercito: Not his brother’s keeper)

“Just pray and be strong and just call my name and – I hope – I’ll be there.”

Senator Estrada also used a song to respond. “Walk away please go, before you throw your life away,” he sang in a phone interview. 

Asked what this meant, Estrada joked, “Be sincere or walk away. Lumayas ka.”

Brotherhood in times of plunder

Along with Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr and Juan Ponce Enrile, Estrada faces plunder charges for allegedly repeatedly endorsing fake non-governmental organizations of supposed mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to pocket millions of pesos in kickbacks intended for development projects for the poor.

Ejercito said just 30 minutes after signing the report against the 3 opposition senators, his father immediately called him.

He explained to the former President, and later to Enrile and Revilla, that he signed the report with the reservation that the Senate inquiry should also include non-Napoles NGOs. It was the same argument the 3 senators have been harping on.

Asked why he did not explain this to his half-brother, Ejercito shrugged. “Di kami nagkikita eh.” (We don’t see each other.)

Ejercito said like in past instances during the campaign, Senator Estrada was quick to anger. “Had he read my explanation, I think he would have understood my position. I hope he tries even if he doesn’t like [to do it].”

Ejercito and Estrada are sons of the former President with different women. The elder Jinggoy is the son of former senator Doctor Loi Estrada while JV’s mother is actress-turned-San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez. Their rivalry worsened because of politics in San Juan, where they both sat as mayors.

Ejercito revealed there was a time they stopped fighting.

“During the darkest moments of my family, when my father was overthrown, it was one of the most difficult times for everybody. In our misery, depression, there was a time we became close.”

He was referring to the former president’s ouster and trial, where father and son Joseph and Jinggoy Estrada faced plunder charges over allegations they received payoffs from the illegal numbers game jueteng. Jinggoy was acquitted, only to face a new plunder case over the pork barrel scam.

Ejercito said, “So who knows when that time comes again? I hope it doesn’t come from him [being] in a situation like that. I hope he would realize there’s nobody else to lean on except family.”

Ejercito said he and his mother will look after Jinggoy’s daughter, Janella, who they got to know better as San Juan councilor. “We also feel bad. We see her bothered because of the situation.”

‘Jinggoy closer to Napoles’

Ejercito was also dragged into the controversy but Napoles later clarified that his inclusion in the list of officials part of the scam was a mistake.

Rappler has reported that Napoles was photographed partying with former President Estrada, Loi, Jinggoy and his wife Precy. What is her relationship with the Ejercito-Estradas?

“All I know about her relationship with the family were the pictures shown, that’s it. I really never got the chance to get to talk to her. I didn’t get to know her,” Ejercito said. 

Asked if Jinggoy was closer to Napoles than he is, Ejercito said, “They are the ones with photos. We have no photos.”

When the topic shifted to his anti-political dynasty bill, Ejercito found a way to relate it to their situation. 

“Sa bill na iyon, siguro bawal na ang makapatid sa Senado. Wala na kayong makikitang rivalry,” he quipped. (Under that bill, perhaps siblings in the Senate will be banned. You won’t see any rivalry anymore.)  – Rappler.com