JV denies rivalry with Jinggoy

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada denied media reports of an alleged “sibling rivalry” between him and his stepbrother, Senator Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” Estrada.

“I have always regarded my brother (the senator) with respect. I don’t hide the fact that I disagree with him on certain, mostly political, issues. However, I’ve never said or done anything that would lead anybody to conclude our relationship is hostile or antagonistic,” JV said in a press statement yesterday.

The congressman was reacting to a story on The Freeman published Oct. 26 quoting him as saying, “We’re not ‘buddy’ or textmates, but we’re civil (to each other).”

“In that Bacolod interview, I did say, “we’re not ‘buddy-buddy’ or text mates, but we’re civil (to each other).” But I was just responding to the insinuation made by a reporter that my brother and I will always take the same side of any question, presumably to the detriment of the nation,” he added in the press statement.

During that press conference also, JV was asked by reporters if his alleged “sibling rivalry” with Jinggoy would likely extend to the Senate should he win in his senatorial bid. “It’s going to be exciting; some even say there’s going to be a check-and-balance in the Senate,” he answered.

“If my answers in that interview hurt him, it was not my intention. Neither did I mean to gain political capital at his expense by making our disagreement public,” JV said. “My brother finds the words ‘sibling rivalry’ objectionable, to describe our relationship. Those are the reporter’s phrase, not mine,” he added.

JV said that, most often, they are at both ends of the issues so, if he wins as senator, he expects floor debates in the Senate with Jinggoy, but he clarified then that although they are not friends, they still respect each other.

“In one of our meetings, my brother and I promised we would serve our countrymen to the best of our abilities. I think we should be able to transcend our petty differences in order to redeem that promise, something our father, former President Joseph Estrada, wanted us to do,” he said in the press statement.

“I believe both of us love our father. That is why, for my part, I will always try to bridge the gap that separates us, considering ‘our family’s circumstances.’ I’m sure my Kuya Jinggoy will reciprocate the effort,” JV said in a press statement.

Jinggoy was mayor of San Juan from 1992 to 2001, and was succeeded by JV, who was mayor of San Juan from 2001 to 2010. The two are sons of Erap: JV to San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez from Bacolod and Jinggoy to former senator Dr. Luisa “Loi” Estrada.

In a separate statement yesterday, Jinggoy said, “I believe that I have done my best to prove that I can rise above any petty and unjust remarks against me from my own brother. I sincerely hope that as a senatorial aspirant who I look forward to being a colleague in the Senate, he can do the same.”

The senator, however, expressed his willingness to show the ropes to JV. “If he happens to be elected senator and there comes a time when there is something to point out with respect to legislative work or socio-political concerns, I will carry out the task as a seasoned legislator and as a statesman considering that my brother is a younger colleague,” he said.

“I admit that we may not agree and even argue on some social and political issues - much like the atmosphere in any deliberative body and the current Philippine Senate where free exchange of ideas is not only welcome but absolutely necessary,” Jinggoy added. (FREEMAN)