Incoming Senator JV Ejercito on Monday said he hopes to work with his half-brother, also incoming Senator Jinggoy Estrada on a professional level.
“I hope it’s gonna be professional” as long as it doesn’t interfere with our work or perhaps, “we might just work by ourselves,” Ejercito, in an interview with CNN’s “The Source,” said.
Ejercito and Estrada landed in the 10th and 14th spots, respectively in the last senatorial race.
Both are sons of former President Joseph Estrada. The brothers have remained at odds with each other.
“I have to be honest, it will take time for our relationship to heal because there are a lot of things that happened, especially during this campaign,” Ejercito said.
However, he refused to further go into details.
In the same TV interview, Ejercito said he is against political dynasties. He initially hesitated about running in last May’s elections.
“Frankly, I thought about it because I support the anti-dynasty bill. Because I personally believe that with more than 100 million Filipinos, there are a lot of people there who also want to serve, who are also capable,” he said.
“But do they have the name? Do they have the machinery and the means to get themselves elected?” Ejercito said.
He thought it would not be good if he and his half-brother are running for the same posts,
But with the early implementation of the housing department and the Universal Health Care Law—measures that he previously pushed as a senator—he said he wanted to make sure that these laws will benefit the public.
“At least we are elected by the people. Going back, I still believe there are a lot of people there who are capable and who can serve but don’t have the means to get themselves elected,” Ejercito said.
