JV Ejercito mulls quitting politics after Senate term ends

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito is rethinking his future in politics now that he is facing trial for graft and malversation over the alleged anomalous purchase of P2.1 million worth of firearms as city mayor.

Ejercito said he has been pondering about his political career while serving the 90-day suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan.

“This vacation is giving me time to think about the future. Public service is a thankless job,” he told reporters after the start of his trial for technical malversation before the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division on Tuesday.

Ejercito admitted he has been affected by the cases filed against him because he believes he did nothing wrong.

“It’s very hard to be accused of something you did not do. Mayroon akong oras ngayon makapag-isip kung gusto ko ba ito— ‘yung public service— because it’s really a thankless job,” he said.

Asked if he’s considering not running for an elective post in 2019 after his term as senator ends, Ejercito said: “Oo, nakaka-ano na eh. Syempre tao lang din tayo. Mahirap yung pagdudadahan ka nang wala ka namang ginagawa.”

“My family doesn’t like me to run anymore,” he added.

Ejercito is facing graft and technical malversation charges for allegedly using San Juan City’s calamity fund to buy the firearms when he was the mayor in 2008 even though the city was not under a state of calamity.

Although he comes from a prominent political family, the senator said he believes having spent close to two decades in politics “will be enough.”

“Siguro naman 18 years of good public service will be enough. I’m very satisfied. I just want to clear my name. Since 2001 up to present, I never had any blemish in my track record— for the record,” he said. — VVP, GMA News