JV’s party sweeps San Juan elections

Former presidential son Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito and his party mates have made a clean sweep of almost all the local elective posts in San Juan, results of a quick count showed yesterday.

"This is a vindication for my family. I offer this victory to my father and the Filipino masses. This is not only my victory but also the victory of the people of San Juan," said Ejercito.

Based on the unofficial quick count, Ejercito garnered 41,235 votes against 22,577 of his closest rival, former San Juan mayor Adolfo Sto. Domingo of the Liberal Party. The town has some 75,000 voters.

Ejercito’s running mate Leonardo Celles also led the vice mayoralty race with a slight margin. Celles had 22,293 votes while his closest opponent Ericson Alcovendaz got 22,258.

Former Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora is also likely to get back his seat as representative of San Juan to Congress. He got 37,026 votes against television reporter Ronald Estella’s 22,008 votes and Rep. Jose Marie Gonzales’ 14,086 votes.

The unofficial poll results also showed that Ejercito’s camp might get 11 of the 12 seats in the two-district municipal council.

Ejercito noted that his father, jailed former President Estrada, was more excited than him to know the results of Monday’s polls.

"He called me at around 4:30 p.m. (last Monday) to know how I was doing. I told him that the canvassing had not started. He is really excited. He is happy that everything is turning up well for our party," he added.

But according to Bobby Gomez, assistant campaign manager of Sto. Domingo, they will file an electoral protest against Ejercito with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Gomez claimed Ejercito’s camp had engaged in vote buying and ballot switching to win the elections.

He cited for instance, that when the power supply in Pinaglabanan was interrupted last Monday night, Sto. Domingo was leading in the counting. But when the electricity was restored, Sto. Domingo tailed Ejercito.

"The machinery of the Estradas is very much alive. They are not powerless. They still have the influence to manipulate the elections," Gomez alleged.

Ejercito expressed belief that the turn of events concerning his imprisoned father had worked in his favor. "We got sympathy votes. The masses are really behind us."

He said that their supporters sustained him and his family during the past few months that they had to contend with alleged harassment and threats from the government.

"My only aim now is to prove that the Estradas want nothing but good for the poor Filipinos. My victory would be very symbolic for us. We have the power behind us. Time is different but we will overcome," Ejercito added.