The Exposition and Expulsion of Ejercito-Estrada in the Industry of Politics
By Contessa Marie Ko
From the limelight to the spotlight of power, Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada seized the nation’s gaze. Recently seen as a common trend among Philippine celebrities and actors, Erap was one of the pioneers in parlaying popularity to gain a seat at the political table. Rising through the ranks — being a mayor, a senator, and a vice president — Erap climbed his way to the presidency and lifted his whole family with him.
The plot started in 1967 when Erap assumed San Juan’s mayoralty. He laid the foundations of the dynasty by transforming San Juan into one of the progressive cities in the National Capital Region during that time. His legacy in the municipality fortified the establishment of the family’s loyal following and political base in the cities of San Juan and Manila.
His blockbuster career commenced their family’s entrance into the industry of governance. Once he captured the center stage, he ensured that the audience always had their eyes on the family. With the patrimonial and collective nature of Philippine politics, uplifting his family in the political scene was an easy feat for Erap Estrada.
Becoming the 13th President of the Philippines led Estrada to become the main character of the Ejercito-Estrada clan. Closely behind him are his supporting actors, his sons, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito. Since then, the brothers have kept the family’s legacy afloat, but constantly running for the same positions in the past elections has manifested acrimony — fighting over who has higher fame.
Fame, power, and greed — the common narrative sources of conflict. The House of Ejercito-Estrada was no stranger to those during their tenure in government.
Erap’s presidency was marked by the Jueteng Scandal, named after the country’s illegal numbers game. Erap was accused of taking millions from jueteng operators as protection money. Witnesses found traces of the money trail that led to Luis Singson, then governor of Ilocos Sur province, and eventually to the president. Singson accused Erap of accepting $8.6M of jueteng payoffs. Alongside these accusations were also stock manipulation and tobacco excise taxes.
These allegations amounted to a discontinued impeachment trial resulting in the Second EDSA People Power Revolution that ousted him. He was later convicted of plunder but was pardoned by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Despite owing the Philippines ₱400 million, Erap sustained a loyal following as the absolute pardon allowed him to run again for the presidency in 2010 and be elected mayor of Manila from 2013 to 2019.
His son, Jinggoy Estrada, followed his steps as he also faced plunder charges related to Janet Lim-Napoles’ pork barrel scam involving ₱10 billion in public funds. He was accused of embezzling ₱183 million from bogus projects and was arrested in 2014. Like the goons in an action movie, he was released on bail in 2017.
Relatedly, Emilio Ramon “E.R.” Estrada, Jinggoy’s cousin and fellow movie-star-turned-politician, was dismissed from office in 2014 after overspending in election campaigns during the 2013 elections.
These conflicts of interest and swallows of greed have immensely impacted the family’s political standing, leading to the almost downfall of the political dynasty in the 2019 elections.
The 2019 midterm elections were the biggest plot twist for the Ejercito-Estrada clan, but it was no plot twist for the masses who saw the decline of the family’s influence. Erap failed to serve a third term as Manila’s mayor and both brothers failed to get a Senate seat. Most of their family shared the same vanquish, with only Erap’s niece, Jana Ejercito, winning the run for councilors in the Second District of San Juan.
It may look like a definite conclusion for the Ejercito-Estrada clan, but the story is just getting started.
Erap did not concede from losing to Isko Moreno in 2019 — the same sentiment was reflected in their political dynasty. Erap retired from politics since then, but that did not stop him from lending a hand to the government as he continues to lead his party, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
Eventually, the House of Ejercito-Estrada rose from the ashes like Phoenixes in the Senate again. The half-brothers were elected to the Senate in the 2022 elections and their five family members are vying for a position in this year’s elections. The 2025 midterm elections are fast approaching, and the dynasty is hanging by a thread. The stakes are high, given that the family patriarch, at 87, is not getting any younger.
The 2025 cast of the House of Ejercito-Estrada is planned accordingly to dominate Laguna and San Juan. The roster expanded to include not just sons and mothers but also cousins and wives.
We have Jorge “Jerico” Ejercito as the vice-gubernatorial candidate for Laguna. Former San Juan councilor Jana Ejercito will be running as San Juan’s lone district congressional candidate. We also have Laguna 4th District candidate for Board Member Maria Guadalupe ”Jhulia” Ejercito. For Pagsanjan, John Paul ”Jet” Ejercito is vying for councilor and E.R. Ejercito for mayor.
The dynasty’s return in the 2025 midterm elections would write the continuation of the political narrative left by Erap Estrada. Erap is unwilling to accept defeat as he sought Manila’s mayoralty after being ousted from the presidency. Now retired, he refuses to see the dynasty he built to crumble from defeat.
If the cast acquires enough votes, the Ejercito-Estrada clan will serve in the executive and legislative branches. Their seats would be scattered among provinces, municipalities, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. These seats will strengthen the clan’s position as one of the building blocks of Philippine politics among dozens of political families.
The political journey of the Ejercito-Estrada clan is a testament that political dynasties are here to stay. The family defied the odds from their scandals and electoral defeats, all while pocketing millions of money from the people. This 2025 midterm elections will be another chance for the clan to reclaim its stardom and political relevance — yet another chance to snatch the role of the main character from the people’s hands.
