Incumbent San Juan City representative Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada had no plans of running for senator in the 2013 midterm elections prior to learning that the survey results favor him.
In a first meeting with the entertainment press on Monday, October 8, at Annabel’s Restaurant, Tomas Morato, Quezon City, JV said, “Ang balak ko tapusin yung full term ko sa congress, kasi first term pa lang ako. Kaya lang, nung lumabas yung pangalan ko sa surveys nung mga una, initially November last year, medyo mataas e!”
It was his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada, who prodded him to give it a go— “Siguro, talagang gusto ka rin nila. So, bakit hindi natin subukan kung ma-maintain mo 'yan hanggang bago mag-filing?”
The most recent results of the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys show Congressman JV’s consistent landing in the top 12 senatoriables.
“Kasi, kahit survey lang yan, kumbaga pulso rin yan ng taongbayan e, no?”
JV’s bid for a senatorial seat is his first venture into national politics. He served as mayor of San Juan from 2001 to 2010. During the 2010 election, he and his mother Guia Gomez—mistress of the ex-president— came out poll victors as congressman and mayor of San Juan, respectively.
The fact that the Ejercito/Estrada political clan has good record of winning during elections puts the pressure on JV.
UNA’s (United Nationalist Alliance) senatorial aspirant said, “I always run scared. Saka given the record, madalas naman yung mga Ejercito/Estrada, nananalo. Meron din naman pero hindi lahat. Siguro mga 90 percent, win.
“Siyempre, ibang laban pa rin ‘to e. National na ito. It’s my first time, siyempre kinakabahan pa rin ako.”
POLITICAL DYNASTIES. The dominance of political dynasties in the 2013 elections has turned the public critical about the perpetuation of the influence of specific clans in Philippine politics.
Among the Magsaysays, Aquinos, Enriles, Cayetanos, are the presence of the Ejercitos/Estradas in the political arena. Should JV succeed, two of former President Estrada’s sons shall fill senatorial seats in the next three years.
JV’s half-brother, Senate president pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada who obtained his slot in the upper house legislation in 2010, will be serving until 2016.
In his clan’s defense, JV stated, “We have to give the final judgment to the electorate, no? Yung mga botante.
“Sila naman yung huling huhusga at palagay ko ito ay issue dati kasi iba na ngayon.
“I think young voters right now, especially mas marami ang mga batang botante, they are the hardest to please.
“Sa tingin ko yung pangalan lamang ay hindi 'yan sapat para ikaw ay kanilang tangkilikin, ano? Siguro that will be half, ang kalahati nito, hardwork, performance, and track record.”
JV added that he will encourage voters to look at his track record as former mayor and present congressman of San Juan, rather than his surname.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked JV: Is perpetuating their clan’s name in the political field more important than fulfilling their individual intentions in serving public?
The congressman retorted, “I would say both kasi siguro yung nangyari sa amin nung nag-mayor ako, I had that challenge na sabi ko gusto ko patunayan na kaya kami ni Mama kasi nagsisilbi kami nang maayos.
“I think I have done that in San Juan. Di naman sa pagmamayabang [but] San Juan is one of the more progressive LGUs in the country and we have the lowest poverty incidence, kami ang pinakakaunting bilang ng mahihirap.
“So, I think, more than the big projects, more than the nice buildings and infrastructures, para sa akin yun ang pinakamalaking success ko e… na ang bilang ng mahihirap sa amin napababa namin kasi nabigyan namin ng maraming trabaho.
“Ano ako e, I think I find fulfilment in seeing that, you know, at least kahit papa’no, nakatulong ka. More than the name, parang dun ako ano. I find fulfilment in that.”
CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT. Meanwhile, JV said he is for the amendment of certain provisions in the controversial Cybercrime Prevention Law, or Republic Act 10175, which President Benigno Aquino III signed last September 12.
The law that punishes libel and other cyberspace-related offenses, which has earned the ire of the public, was issued a 120-day temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court.
The 15 petitions filed before the Supreme Court questioned the constitutionality of the Cybercrime Prevention Act which has generated an uproar of protests among netizens for the last two weeks.
Congressman JV expressed his stand: “Naging biktima rin ako niyan e, nung na-aabuse ng cyberspace. I am for it but I am against the provisions that curtail the freedom of information especially yung… access to data na puwedeng buksan at puwedeng isara ng ating administrasyon.
“Hindi po ako pabor doon. I am against the provisions in the Cybercrime Law that would curtail the freedom of expression kasi aktibo rin ako sa social networking sites— sa Twitter, sa Facebook.
“Since hindi naman ako talaga madalas din pumupunta sa balita bilang isang public servant, this is my way of communicating and feeling the pulse of the people.
“So, against ako sa mga probisyon na bubusalan yung freedom of expression.”
RELATIONSHIP WITH JINGGOY. At the press conference, JV did not escape the frank questioning of the entertainment media.
The San Juan legislator, who admitted that among his family members he is the least close to the entertainment press, was asked about his feud with his half-brother, Senator Jinggoy.
Senator Jinggoy is the ex-president’s son by former first lady and politician, Loi Estrada. Meanwhile, Congressman JV is the son of the ex-president with his mistress and now mayor of San Juan City, Guia Gomez.
Upon being asked, JV smiled and said, “I would say na nag-improve naman yung relationship. Pero hindi talaga kami buddy-buddy or hindi kami nagte-textan pero hindi na kami tulad nung dati na petty issues talagang nag-aaway kami.
“So, I think we have both matured.”
The 42-year-old politician explained, “Later on, we discovered nung nag-usap kami na [dahi] pareho kaming nasa pulitika, pareho kaming naging mayor, ang problema may mga taong nagsusulsol, yung mga taong nanggagatong.
“Later on, na-realize namin na yun pala ang nagpalala ng aming relationship.”
He stressed, “We are not the closest siblings [but] we know for a fact na isa yun sa mga frustration ng aming father na maging magkaibigan kami.”
When the former President Estrada was detained in Tanay, Rizal after being overthrown by the Second People Power Revolution in 2001, it was there that he requested his sons to put stop to their rivalry.
JV told the press, “Sinabihan niya kami na ‘Kung gusto niyo pa humaba ang buhay ko, magkaayos kayo.’
“Both of us love our father very much that we need to bury whatever misunderstanding [we have]. We are willing to bury the hatchet, so to speak.”
In a separate interview at the press conference, JV was likewise asked what the public can expect from having two Estradas serve in the senate.
JV chuckled, “It will be interesting to see both of us in the Senate.”
Will their differences stand in the way?
The congressman answered, “We stand by our own issues and opinions. Kaya hindi ibig sabihin na kung sakali kaming magsasabay, na iisa boto namin. Palagay ko na mas makikita ng ating mga kababayan na may sarili kaming mga paninindigan.”
SHOWBIZ. At the press conference, JV was put in the spot when thrown the question “Sino ang mas babaero? Si JV, si Jinggoy, o si Erap?”
The congressman, who promised the press with a no-holds-barred question-and-answer portion, let out a laugh. He replied, “Palagay ko ano, e… Siyempre, mahirap talunin yung original!
“Yun ang pinaka-guwapo, e. Saka nung panahon nila, walang cell phone at lahat.
“Admittedly, palagay ko, kahit kami ni Senator Jinggoy humarap dito, bow kami dun.
“Talagang mas guwapo yun kahit saang anggulo mo tignan!”
JV, who did not deny being linked to sexy actress Rufa Mae Quinto back in 1997, told the press that he is now married to Cindy Lotuaco, a former Cathay Pacific flight attendant and Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty-titlist.
He and Cindy have a four-year-old son.
JV also has a 12-year-old son by his former girlfriend, Binibinang Pilipinas- International 1991, Patty Betita.
JV clarified that he and Patty are good friends now and are supportive of each other especially when attending to their son.
FOCUS AND AIM. If elected senator, JV said he will continue with his advocacy that champions the youth.
The congressman said, “For the past two years in congress, I’ve been fighting for higher budget for state universities.
“SK [Sangguniang Kabataan] reforms, ako rin ang nag-pupush. Kasi ano ako sa youth, dahil I was exposed to youth organizations and I really feel this is our most precious resource…
“I believe in investing in our youth, na magkaro’n ka ng graduate per family.
“That’s a real chance of uplifting the life of their family.”
The congressman mentioned his celebrity endorser— FHM’s reigning sexiest woman, Sam Pinto. He clarified that he meant to get younger artists because his advocacy focuses on the youth.
When finally questioned on whether he aims to be elected vice president or president after serving as senator, JV said he wants to take it a step at a time.
“Ever since I entered public service, hindi ako masyado ano e, ayokong mag-set ng goals. Otherwise, hindi ako makaka-decide nang maaayos.
“Kung, halimbawa, nag-ambisyon ako mag-vice president o mag-presidente, all of my decisions will be based on my goals. Hindi dun sa tama.
“So, kung mabigyan ako ng opportunity, I would make the most out of that.
“Halimbawa, nabiyayaan ako, na ngayon pinalad akong maging congressman, I try to do my best.
“Kung sakaling palarin akong maging senador, hanggang dun muna tayo, no?”
He said would rather focus on the task at hand rather than be preoccupied with higher ambitions.