Father and sons Estrada: Blood thicker than water

MANILA, Philippines – It was a courtesy call that was delayed for two weeks. But the meeting between the brothers Estrada finally pushed through, this time with their father in attendance.

Neophyte senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito paid a courtesy call on his brother Sen Jinggoy Estrada before the opening of session on Monday, July 22.

Then still acting Senate President, Estrada gave his brother advice on preparing for work in the chamber. Yet the hour-long meeting turned into a family reunion when former President now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada suddenly showed up, and talked to the two brothers behind closed doors.

The courtesy call was cancelled two weeks ago, with Estrada telling reporters that his brother suddenly informed his staff of an appointment. The cancellation fuelled rumors about their supposed rift.

Yet the former President sought to end the speculation and urged his sons not to squabble in the Senate.

“I just want to show the public that we are one. I love both of them,” Estrada told reporters after the meeting.

Addressing reports about the sibling rivalry, the former President said, “They are trying to break the relationship between the two brothers but blood is thicker than water. They’ll always be together because they have only one purpose and goal: to uplift the plight of the less fortunate people.”

What if his two sons won’t listen?

“Of course, if they don’t listen to me I won’t talk to them,” Estrada quipped.

Once also a senator, Estrada said he advised his sons to work for “the greater good for the greatest number.”

“And that is the poor. Take care of them because without the poor people, I won’t be Joseph Estrada. They patronized my movies, voted for me all the way up to the presidency up to now as mayor of the city of Manila. The poor people were behind me all the way,” said the actor-turned-politician.

Estrada arrived along with his wife, Dr Loi Estrada, who is also a former senator. Dr Loi Estrada is the mother of Sen Estrada while Ejercito is the son of San Juan Mayor and former actress Guia Gomez.

The former President said he arrived at the Senate because he was invited as a former member of the chamber, and to witness Ejercito’s oath-taking.

‘Cordial atmosphere’

Ejercito affirmed to reporters that he had to skip the courtesy call two weeks ago because of another engagement. Yet, he said he saw the need to push through with it.

“It’s better now before the opening ceremonies. I think it’s a better time for me to pay my respects and my courtesy to him as Senate President,” Ejercito said.

He said the presence of his father in the meeting was an “added bonus.”

Ejercito said his brother told him to work on the speeches he will deliver in the plenary. He described the meeting as “cordial.”

“Reminder that I have to be more prepared because the Senate is another level compared to the House. ‘Just make sure my privilege speech doesn’t have loopholes because you know what it’s like here in the Senate, people show off so you have to make sure the speech is flawless.”

Sen Estrada said he gave the advice “as an elder brother, senior member of this chamber.”

“You always have to be prepared when coming to the Senate,” he reiterated.

Sen Estrada said he will likely sit beside his brother in the session hall because the seating arrangement is done alphabetically.

Asked what else their father told them, Sen Estrada said, “Sa amin na lang ‘yun.” (We’ll keep it to ourselves).

Senators Ejercito and Estrada have long been reported to have a sibling rivalry that intensified because of politics in San Juan and a misunderstanding over TV ads during the 2013 campaign.

The former President though has sought to urge his sons to reconcile, and even issued a gag order when they were criticizing each other through the media last year. – Rappler.com