Jinggoy 'deeply hurt' by half-brother JV's sibling rivalry remarks

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday said he is upset and hurt by the comments made by his half-brother, senatorial aspirant JV Ejercito, regarding their supposed sibling rivalry.   "I am very upset and deeply hurt over some of the comments made by him and his efforts to generate publicity over a supposed competition or rivalry between us at my expense," Estrada said in a statement.   Estrada was referring to news reports quoting Ejercito as saying that their sibling rivalry may reach the Senate if ever he is elected in next year’s elections.   Estrada and Ejercito are sons of former President Joseph Estrada, the former to former Senator Loi Estrada while the latter to incumbent San Juan mayor Guia Gomez.   The younger Estrada said despite their "tepid relationship," he never considered Ejercito a rival.   "Any statement insinuating hostility much more creating public perception of antagonism stemming from such family setup, between two lawmakers possibly extending to the halls of the Senate is farfetched and very unfortunate," he said.    "I admit that we may not agree and even argue on some social and political issues – much like the atmosphere in any deliberative body and the current Philippine Senate where free exchange of ideas is not only welcome but absolutely necessary. Again, this does not mean that we have to be at each other’s throat at all times, though it seems that my brother thinks otherwise," he added.   Estrada also said that if Ejercito ends up winning, he will carry out his duties like a "seasoned legislator and statesman" considering that his half-brother will be a colleague.   "I believe that I have done my best to prove that I can rise above any petty and unjust remarks against me from my own brother. I sincerely hope that as a senatorial aspirant who I look forward to being a colleague in the Senate, he can do the same," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News