The two sons of former President Joseph Estrada will stage a comeback in the Senate in next year’s elections, both offering programs to help the country recover from its economic slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito said they got the blessings of their father, who committed to support them.
In a Zoom briefing Wednesday night, Estrada noted he opted to run again because he wants to help Filipinos who were rendered jobless due the global health crisis that crippled the economy.
The senator, who served as Senate Labor and Employment committee chairperson, has been known for giving jobs especially to the poor.
“I have left pending bills in the Senate that would alleviate the lives of our farmers, workers, OFWs and the other poor Filipinos- the sector of “modern heroes” and the backbone of the economy,” stressed Estrada.
“And this time of pandemic, we are hoping that these “small workers” will save our economy,” he added.
Estrada said his father and his entire family had fought for this sector for a long time.
Aside from being a president, his father was also once a Manila mayor and mother, Dr. Loi Ejercito, a senator.
According to Estrada, they cannot forget the “masang Pilipino” because they were the ones who catapulted his father to the country’s highest elective position.
Should he be given another chance in the Senate, Estrada committed to continue providing jobs to Filipinos especially now that many had lost their jobs and eventually, their income.
He also cited the need for the government to help small businesses which were also adversely affected by the Covid pandemic.
“But the government. We need the help of the private sector. the private sector must help and must be involved particularly. And we also need to help those affected,” said Estrada who will run under the the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) where is the president. He has also got an offer to run under Lakas-NUCD.
Although Ejercito, his half-brother, is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Estrada said he is open and will be “honored” to be adopted as “guest candidate” by the said party.
He emphasized it’s not an issue with him if he and his younger brother will be running under the same political party.
Asked on the possibility of a “split vote,” perceived as a major reason for their loss in their 2016 Senate run, Estrada said he just leave it to the choice of voters.
On the rift with Ejercito, Estrada said, being an elder brother, he reached out to him several times and revealed they talked.
“We talked personally, face-to-face, around three weeks ago, “ related Estrada.
Pressed on what happened, he replied, “wala and continued, “Yes, we talked. We really talked- had a 15-minute talk. As an older brother, we talked about plans this coming election. First, he was thinking of running here in San Juan, but he told me- give me one week to decide, and after one week, I heard from a mutual friend that he is gunning for the Senate again,” said Estrada about the brief meeting.
Estrada was credited for the Batas Kasambahay, Tripartism Act, the lifting of the nightwork prohibition, and the law strengthening mandatory conciliation and mediation as labor dispute mechanisms, among others.
He has filed over 600 bills in the Senate, majority delved on advancing the rights, interests, and welfare of workers.
Meanwhile, Ejercito is the principal author of the Senate version of the Universal Health Care Law, which ensures all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health goods and services.