Senator JV Ejercito admitted he was puzzled and mad when no political parties took him in as one of the Senators at a media conference on April 11, 2022.
Ejercito highlighted that his clean track record and eighteen years as a public servant should have been an edge for any political party.
“To be honest, it was a puzzle for me. I felt mad kasi unang-una malinis ang track record ko, walang akong issue, wala akong sabit, hindi ako magiging bagahe. 18 years of being a public servant, no issue of corruption, unblemished track record, so hindi ako magiging bagahe sa kung sino man ang maghanap sa akin.”
Despite the lack of political party invites, he still felt teary-eyed over President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement.
“Yes, it’s an honor kasi ako ‘yung unang-unang senatorial candidate that he endorsed. Ako ‘yung pinaka-unang na-endorse. Sa totoo lang, I did not expect this, dahil three years na kaming hindi nagkikita ni Presidente because the last time was 2019 elections.
“Hindi ko inexpect ‘yan at noong una kong mapanood ‘yan, medyo naluha ko kasi ang ganda nung endorsement niya medyo strong. Na talagang part of the administration, has remained a good public servant. Talagang medyo maganda ‘yung kanyang endorsement.”
Senator JV Ejercito recently landed Pulse Asia’s Magic 12 survey for Senators in the 2022 elections.
He described his recent survey polls as a miracle, especially with the difficulties of campaigning alone.
“It’s [nothing] short of a miracle that I am figuring high right now kasi napakabigat talaga ng pinagdadaanan ko. Kaya nga highs and lows ‘to.”
He then clarified that he didn’t have any celebrity endorsers because of the limited funds for his campaign, but his celebrity friends do offer help.
“Not this time, wala ako celebrity endorser. For 2013 si Sam Guinto, kasi parang youth ‘yung advocacy ko. So not this time, kasi low budget din.
“Maraming tumutulong sa akin like mga friends ko like sila Vina Morales. Some offered like sila Raymart Santiago, some basketball players, marami rin ano–si Jayson Abalos. Mga friends ko na nasa showbiz.”
He also shared his opinion on what should be the basis of electing public officials, such as track record, performance, character, and sincerity.
“Sa akin unang-una dapat tignan natin ‘yung performance, as a public servant, and then also the integrity. ‘Yun ang pinaka-importante ‘yung malinis ‘yung track record, walang issues.
“Probably third will be character and personality, tignan po natin ‘yung character. Importante po ‘yan. ‘Yung behavior, ‘yung actuation, ‘yung character is really important–‘yung attitude.
“Pinaka-importante din ‘yung sincerity din. Nakikita mo naman kung talagang gusto nila gumawa ng mabuti marami kasi na pulitiko na maganda tignan pag nasa harap ng camera, pero malalaman at makikilatis natin ang kanilang sinceridad.”
Senator JV Ejercito was the principal author of the R.A. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, which Incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte signed on February 20, 2019. During the event, he vowed to monitor the progress of the Universal Health Care Law and focus on housing and job security through infrastructure development if he gets reelected.
