JV to give up bid for mayor if...

His official family may be wracked by rivalry, but it looks like there will be peace in the House of Estrada.

Presidential son Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said yesterday he will give up his much-publicized bid for mayor of San Juan if his older half-brother Mayor Jinggoy Estrada decides to run for congressman of the same municipality.

"San Juan is too small for the two of us," Ejercito said yesterday at the Bulong Pulungan press forum at the Westin Philippine Plaza.

Anticipating criticisms President Estrada will get from his sons' entering two major political contests in the same district, JV told media he does not want "to add... to Dad's problems."

"I am willing to give way to my older brother. I am still young, I still have a lot of time before me," JV said.

"Anyway, I do not need a post to serve the country. The important thing is that we unite behind our father," JV, the President's only son by former actress Guia Gomez, added.

JV had earlier expressed his intention to run for mayor of San Juan, a post his father held for 17 years. But since Jinggoy is on his third and last term as mayor, the post is up for grabs and JV has expressed interest in running for it. If he does, he will be virtually running against Jinggoy, who is said to be supporting incumbent Vice Mayor Philip Cezar in the fight for the post.

"It's about time Jinggoy and I patch things up," JV said, confirming that a rift did exist between him and his older half-brother. He also admitted that their father had asked both of them to settle their differences.

JV expressed confidence that if Jinggoy does not run for congressman, the latter will support his bid for San Juan mayor.

"He (Jinggoy) has no choice but to support me. And if he runs, I will support him too," JV said.

Jinggoy is reportedly eyeing a slot in the Senate slate of the administration party.

But a recent Pulse Asia survey showed him in a dismal four-way tie at the 16th to 19th slots with Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, Press Secretary Ricardo Puno and former Pangasinan Gov. Oscar Orbos.

JV first publicly expressed support for Jinggoy at the height of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) controversy, during which former director Sister Christine Tan alleged that Jinggoy's office was favored in the disbursement of PCSO funds and ambulances.

JV appeared by Jinggoy's side at a press conference at the Club Filipino in San Juan during which the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, headed by Jinggoy, expressed support for the embattled mayor.

JV, a former Philippine Jaycees president, now heads the Bayang Makulay Foundation. The foundation is presenting the world-class musical Miss Saigon in Manila this October.