Brothers JV, Jinggoy hug each other as they get Senate comeback

Half-brothers JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada raised each other’s hands and hugged during the proclamation of all 12 winning senators in Eleksyon 2022 on Wednesday.

Both estranged siblings got a Senate comeback, as Ejercito ranked 10th with 15,841,858 votes, while Estrada rounded out the Top 12 with 15,108,625 votes.

JV is the son of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada with former actress and former San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez. Jinggoy, on the other hand, is the former President’s son with his wife Loi Ejercito.

In 2019, both brothers lost in the senatorial race, with Ejercito ranked 13th, while Estrada landed on the 15th spot.

Ejercito earlier said that Estrada's candidacy was the "greatest problem" that hindered him from landing in the Top 12. He said that their clan had spread itself too thin in the midterm elections, leading to many of their bids failing.

The brothers are not the only close relatives in the Senate. Former Public Works secretary Mark Villar joins his mother Cynthia in the upper chamber.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) at the Philippine International Convention Center, named the senators-elect, who will all assume office at noon on June 30, 2022. — BM, GMA News