JV Ejercito takes oath as NPC member, admits he has yet to talk with Erap

Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito took his oath Wednesday as the newest member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition before the party’s senior council leader Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Ejercito admitted that he has yet to personally talk with his father, former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, about his transfer to NPC.

“Pupuntahan ko pa lang siya pero nagpasabi na ako. Hindi kasi magandang tingnan na dalawa kaming magkapatid na nasa isang partido,” he told reporters after the oath-taking.

The senator was referring to Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino which is headed by his father and where his brother former Senator Jinggoy Estrada is also a member. Ejercito was a member of PMP prior to his transfer to NPC.

He said he earlier asked the permission of his father when he was being recruited by Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and the latter allowed him to transfer.

Asked if he would be amenable if ever the NPC endorses the candidacy of Jinggoy as a guest candidate, Ejercito said he would respect the party decision.

“I would respect the party decision. I would just look at my own campaign and hope that my performance in the Senate would be enough for the voters to consider me,” he said.

Sotto, for his part, said Ejercito would definitely be part of the NPC senatorial lineup for the 2019 midterm elections, together with former Senator Lito Lapid who also recently took his oath as a member.

“We would like to welcome JV with open arms. He is one of the more productive members of the Congress. Maraming landmark legislation na naipasa. Kung hindi man siya author e siya ang sponsor,” he said.

Sotto said the NPC will meet on Thursday to finalize its senatorial slate for the May 2019 polls. —KG, GMA News