Senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday said he is saddened by the arrest of his half-brother and colleague, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, but stressed that what is right should prevail as the legal process takes its course.
Estrada surrendered to authorities on Monday following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him over plunder charges linked to alleged kickbacks in anomalous flood control projects.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Ejercito admitted that despite their distant relationship, he could not deny feeling saddened by the situation.
“Open book naman na hindi kami talagang malapit na magkapatid. Pero hindi naman ako hipokritong tao na hindi ako na sasabihing hindi ako nalulungkot. Siyempre, nakalulungkot din bilang kapatid. Kahit papano, kadugo ko ‘yan,” Ejercito said.
He also said he sympathized with Estrada’s family and acknowledged their professional relationship in the Senate.
“Bilang kasamahan sa Senado. Sa Senado, okay naman kami magtrabaho. So syempre nakakalungkot na yun na naisip ko rin yung kanyang pamilya,” he added.
Despite his personal feelings, Ejercito stressed that the legal process must proceed to determine the truth and ensure justice.
“Bagamat ako nalulungkot bilang colleague at pamilya. Napakahirap kasi titimbangin mo dahil ako rin ay isang halal na likod bayan, halal na senador ating bansa. Meron din tayong mandato na kailangan nating umusad,” he said.
“Sa akin po, kailangan nating umusad ang batas para lumabas ang katotohanan. For the benefit of ‘yung akusado rin, para mapatunayan kung siya may pagkakasala o wala. ‘Yan ang korte na ang bahala dyan.”
“Sa huli, siyempre ang kailangan natin ay manaig ang hustisya dahil pinag-uusapan dito ay accountability at pera ng taong bayan,” Ejercito added.
He acknowledged the difficulty of balancing family ties and public duty but underscored the importance of upholding “what is right.“
“Sa totoo lang, mahirap timbangin dahil andyan yung iyong relasyon bilang kamag-anak pero nandun din yung iyong mandato bilang isang public servant na kinakailangan, sabi nga ng batas, na in all considerations, what is right should prevail. Meron tayong ganun na sinasabi sa ating buong batas,” Ejercito said.
JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada are both sons of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada. Jinggoy is the son of former senator Loi Ejercito, while JV is the son of former San Juan mayor Guia Gomez.
In 2014, Estrada was also arrested and detained over plunder and graft charges linked to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel scam.” He was accused of receiving around ₱183 million in kickbacks from alleged ghost projects linked to Janet Lim-Napoles.
He was granted bail in 2017.
