ER Ejercito cries foul over ‘unfair’ treatment of Aquino administration

Ousted Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon "ER" Ejercito expressed his anger toward President Benigno Aquino III for what he said was unfair treatment that he and his relatives have been getting from him just because they belong to the opposition.

 

At the sidelines of the second Ginto ng Palad for Public Service awarding ceremonies of the Movie Writers' Welfare Foundation on Saturday, Ejercito spoke up for the first time since the Supreme Court upheld the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision to unseat him for overspending during the May 2013 elections. 

 

Ejercito is the nephew of former President and now Manila mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada, and cousin of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

 

"Masyado nang malalim ang atraso ng mga Aquino sa mga Ejercito. Tinanggal na ni Cory (Aquino, former president and Benigno's mother) si Erap bilang mayor at presidente. Ngayon naman, tinanggal ako saka si Sen. Jinggoy. Selective justice. Bakit ang mga taga-Liberal Party, hindi nila ginagalaw? Bakit puro taga-oposisyon?" he said.

 

 

The Balitanghali report on Sunday also said that during his acceptance speech, Ejercito said he wanted to see Aquino go to jail.

 

He also said he was planning to return to politics by 2016.

 

"Hintayin na lang natin ang 2016," he told reporters.

 

On Tuesday, the SC junked Ejercito's motion questioning the decision of the Comelec en banc to disqualify him. 

 

Ejercito was found to have paid P6 million for one television advertisement contract to further his gubernatorial campaign in 2013.

 

Election rules, however, allowed him to spend only P4.5 million for his entire campaign. Documents showed that he spent some P23.5 million.

 

He has been replaced by Vice Governor Ramil Hernandez, who took his oath as governor even after Ejercito tried to hold on to his office at the provincial capitol.

 

He left on May 30 upon the prodding of Mayor Estrada. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KG, GMA News