MANILA, Philippines - Amid claims that the recall of L-300 FB vans he distributed to certain barangays in San Juan was in retaliation for not supporting his candidacy, Senator-elect JV Ejercito said some politicians in San Juan are out to destroy his name.
He did not identify the politicians.
“To say that we have recalled the service vans of all barangays that did not support us in the elections is totally unfair. It is a fabricated lie coming from certain political figures in San Juan who failed to prevent me from winning in the senatorial election. These personalities are presently disgruntled after knowing that the San Juaneños voted straight, 15-0, in favor of Partido Magdiwang, our local political party†Ejercito said.
Ejercito said the Barangay Operation Center of San Juan City ordered an inventory of L-300 vans after receiving reports that some units were being used for personal purposes.
“The San Juan government wanted to make sure that the service vans are all accounted for because it received complaints that the vans were being used for personal purposes by some people even outside the city of San Juan. Those vans were provided to barangay government to better serve their constituents and to equip our barangays in delivering basic services to the community, not for their own personal agenda,†Ejercito said.
He noted that the L-300 vans distributed to 21 barangays were recalled regardless if the voters supported his candidacy and that of San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
“The article was based on the statement of an alleged source. Although it is true that I have donated the L-300 units to the barangays out of my Priority Development Assistance Fund, the statement suggesting that the units will be pulled out because of political vendetta was totally incorrect. I do not have the authority to do that,†Ejercito said.