CEBU CITY – For former Senator JV Ejercito, this year’s campaign is the most difficult in his almost 20-year political career, and yet the son of former President Joseph Estrada said he is confident of his bid to return to the Senate.

“It has been very tough, very difficult to campaign independently,” said Ejercito during a press briefing on Monday. “Probably the most difficult campaign in my political life.”

Ejercito said that although he is a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, he has been ‘moving alone’ although there were instances that he showed up in the campaign rallies of presidential candidates Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Despite the odds that he has to hurdle, Ejercito said his chances of returning to the Senate are promising.

“Despite the circumstances, I am not with the major presidential team, lack of funds and my brother is also running, my rating is going up and I hope I finish strong,” added Ejercito.

Ejercito lost his Senate bid in the 2019 elections but sees a different result come May 9.

“It has been very encouraging. I am not a celebrity, not popular but the reception is very warm wherever I go. The reception is warmer than 2019,” he said.

Ejercito said the public may have started to appreciate his true value.

“I think it’s because of my good performance, kaya nga (that’s why it’s) ‘the good one.’ I’m not implying anything but I was not involved in any scandals, scams and other issues,” Ejercito said.

According to Ejercito, the 2019 elections could have focused more on him and his brother Jinggoy Estrada together.

“What was highlighted was the sibling rivalry instead of the two landmark legislations that I passed,” said Ejercito.

The landmark legislations that Ejercito was referring to are the Universal Healthcare Law and the creation of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development.

Ejercito said the two laws are still “a work in progress” and ensuring the full implementation of the two legislations are the main reasons why he decided to run again for Senate seat.

“I want to pick up where I left off,” said Ejercito, stressing that he wanted to finish what he has started ‘until the universal healthcare will be felt by everyone.’

If given the chance to return to the Senate, Ejercito said he would push the creation of lung and kidney centers in provinces and increase the salary of healthcare workers.

Ejercito said that squatters should be eradicated ‘because that’s the intention of the human settlement law.’

The two laws that he authored have been his main talking points in campaign sorties, Ejercito said.

“I think it has become a blessing in disguise that I am campaigning alone because I was able to elaborate my programs,” said Ejercito, who served for nine years as a mayor, three years as a congressman and six years as a senator.

In the homestretch of the campaign period, Ejercito said he will be barnstorming in Cebu and Bohol provinces ‘to remind the voters and get their support.’