JV Reiterates Support to Admin's Infrastructure Program

SENATOR JV EJERCITO reaffirmed support to the programs of the Duterte administration pointing out that such move is motivated on pursuing measures to advance the interest of the public sans partisan politics.

In a statement, Ejercito stressed the unwavering efforts of senators belonging to the majority bloc to craft measures in support to the administration's pro-people agenda.

Ejercito, who is a member of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, said the re-electionists in the majority bloc - himself, Cynthia Villar of the Nacionalista Party, Sonny Angara of the Laban ng Demokratiko ng Pilipino, Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, and independent Grace Poe - had been supportive of Duterte's legislative agenda. Ejercito said the bloc of re-electionists had been dubbed "The Force."

"The Senators belonging to "The Force" have been working hard to champion the administration's agenda on infrastructure, education, fight against illegal drugs and corruption, among others," Ejercito said.

"Our hardwork is motivated by public interest not partisan politics," he added.

Ejercito's statement came following previous pronouncement by Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimetel III expressing support to the members of the majority bloc's group "The Force".

Ejercito said that the public expression of support by Senate President Koko Pimentel to "The Force" is a welcome development.

Pimentel, who is also PDP-Laban president bared on Sunday his own senatorial bets for the 2019 elections. He assured re-electionists in the Senate majority bloc that he was "fighting" for their inclusion in the party's lineup.

Aside from him, Pimentel named 13 possible candidates of PDP-Laban in the upcoming midterm elections.

The list includes Senate majority bloc members Ejercito, Angara, Villar, Binay and Poe.

Pimentel also mentioned Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid "Dong" Mangudadatu, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, political adviser Francis Tolentino, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali. Pimentel said he was also considering Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano.

It will be recalled that Ejercito openly discussed in a news forum at the Senate, their "sentiment" against Pimentel who has not made any indication whether re-electionist senators aligned with the administration would be accommodated in PDP-Laban's senatorial slate.

Ejercito had also said previously that they are banking on support of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her regional political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago especially if the PDP-Laban will not include all of them in the administration's senatorial slate.