JV Ejercito says hard to choose Senate President with 2 partymates likely running

MANILA —  Choosing the next Senate President is a difficult choice for Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, especially with two possible contenders being his partymates in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)—Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former Senate President Tito Sotto.

“Malaki po ang utang na loob ko kay Senate President Sotto also because it was during his Senate Presidency that I was able to pass two landmark legislations—yan po yung Universal Healthcare Law and nag-create siya ng Department of Human Settlements,” Ejercito said in a press conference on Thursday.  

“Kay Senator Chiz now as Senate President, they asked me to be Deputy Majority Leader again. And I’m part of the leadership right now and I would say, not to defend or to play safe, but I think the Senate was able to pass a lot of priority measures. Medyo marami ring accomplishments under the leadership of Senate President Chiz,” he added.  

“So it’s a difficult choice. Pareho kong naging kapartido, NPC po kami pare-pareho, but we will see.” 

 Escudero 'unbothered' by Tito Sotto's remark on Senate presidency

The NPC has not told its members whom to support, according to Ejercito.

“There is no instruction from the party kasi nga parehong kapartido eh. Siguro kung isa lang madali. Probably mahirap din para sa partido magdecide on who to support,” he explained.  

Asked if the Senate Presidency is just between Escudero and Sotto, Ejercito said as far as he knows, there is Senator Imee Marcos as well.

“Si Imee pa. I think Senator Imee already also kasi meron din silang bloc di ba,” he stated. “Hindi naman siya nagsabi sa’kin.”

Sotto willing to accept Senate Presidency if there are 'enough numbers'

It is unclear if Sotto and Escudero have approached Ejercito, but he said there are those who have approached him.

“May mga kumakausap naman, of course. Sabi ko tignan natin. Sabi ko na lang … we are still in the 19th congress, I’m part of the leadership as a courtesy and respect to Senate President Chiz who gave me the trust and confidence. Syempre kung sakali, I’ll be the last, kung saka-sakali na mayroon talagang change because I am part of the leadership of Senator Escudero at present,” Ejercito stated.  

He also did not categorically answer if he has been offered the Majority Leader post by Escudero.

According to Ejercito, “Marami talagang offer pag may change in leadership pero sa ngayon siguro okay na ako sa deputy. Kung mabigyan ako ng opportunity why not. Pero whether I’ve been offered or not again, primary consideration will be able to uphold the Constitution especially."

He said what he is looking for in a Senate President is someone who will be able to steer the Senate during “these turbulent, challenging times.”