MANILA, Philippines — Ousted Laguna Governor ER Ejercito on Friday left the provincial capitol after his uncle, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, urged him to heed the disqualification order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Standing beside Ejercito in a televised speech in Laguna, Estrada asked his nephew to just wait for the Supreme Court's decision on his appeal on the Comelec order disqualifying him for campaign overspending in the 2013 elections.
"Pero ngayon kailangang bumaba na siya kasama ko, alang-alang sa kapayapaan at katahimikan ng ating lalawigan. Iyon po ang aking pakiusap," Estrada said before an audience of his nephew's supporters.
Television reports following Estrada's speech said Ejercito has left the Laguna Capitol.
Last week, the Comelec en banc upheld the decision issued by its First Division in September 2013 disqualifying Ejercito
Voting 7-0, the poll body said Ejercito, who had a limit of P4.5 million for his campaign expenses, spent P23.5 million.
Claiming that majority of politicians commit election overspending, Estrada criticized the Comelec's "swift" decision, saying his nephew was singled out.
"Walang bababa sa sisenta porsyento ang nag-overspending... na mga kandidato sa ating bansa. Mula sa baba at doon sa kataas-taasan, lahat yan nag-overspending," the Manila mayor said.
"Nagtataka lang ako dito sa ating Comelec na bakit bukod tanging pinili ang ating gobernador ng lalawigan ng Laguna," he added. "Sa dinami-dami ng mga nag-overspending, bakit siya ang pinili na pababain?"
Recounting his return to politics after being ousted as San Juan mayor and president, Estrada told Ejercito that he, too, will make a come back in 2016 if ever the high court gives an unfavorable decision on his appeal.
"Magbabalik ka uli bilang Gobernador ER," Estrada said.