Manila, Philippines– The lawmaker behind landmark laws including the Universal Healthcare Act has found himself in a difficult spot in the recently held midterm elections.
Re-electionist JV Ejercito is currently at 13th place and at least two hundred thousand votes behind his fellow Sen. Nancy Binay in the partial and unofficial count.
In an interview, Ejercito said he is not yet ready to concede. He is also holding into the slimmest chance that he can still make it.
“There’s a very very slim chance. But the reason why I do not want to concede is because I also owe it to the people who worked very hard for me.” Ejercito told CNN Philippines.
The senator also attributed his potential defeat to his brother former Senator Jinggoy Estrada who is currently at the 15th place and has already conceded in the race.
“Had INC or Iglesia supported me, I would have been in the number 8, number 9 position. Had I been the only one who ran without my brother, I could have gotten 18, 19 million votes” Ejercito said.
Ejercito is one of the principal authors and sponsors of the Universal Healthcare Law that mandates all Filipinos to be covered by PhilHealth.
Despite pushing for this important law, Ejercito finds himself lagging in pre-election surveys.
And even after the midterm polls, Ejercito admits there is a minimal chance for reconciliation with his half-brother, Jinggoy.
“I don’t know. Malabo pa sa ngayon. Siguro when we’re old baka pagtawanan nalang namin to,” he added. (Twitter photo)
