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E. R. Ejercito
Filipino actor and politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Emilio Ramon Pelayo Ejercito III (Tagalog: [ʔɛˌhɛːɾ.sɪˈto]; born October 5, 1963), popularly known as E. R. Ejercito,[a] is a Filipino actor and former governor of Laguna from 2010 until his removal in 2014. Prior to his election as governor, he served as mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna, from 2001 until 2010.[2] He is the son of actor George Estregan and the nephew of former President and former Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
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In 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the guilty verdict for Ejercito from the Sandiganbayan for awarding an insurance contract to a company as mayor in 2008 without a public bidding process, thus perpetually disqualifying him from holding office in government.[3][4]
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Early life and education
Born Emilio Ramon Pelayo Ejercito III on October 5, 1963, in Mandaluyong, then a municipality of Rizal province, to actor Jorgé Jesús Marcelo Ejercito (1939–1988) who went by the screen name George Estregan and Ramona Pelayo (1942–2020) from Ibajay, Aklan. He holds residence in Pagsanjan.
He studied at La Salle Green Hills for his primary and secondary education. He then studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman for his college education and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Majoring in Advertising and Visual Communications.
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Acting career
In 1989, Ejercito began using the screen name George Estregan Jr. and Jorge Estregan, taken after his father's screen name, starring in the film Eagle Squad. He later went on to use Jorge "E. R." Estregan in his later acting career.[5]
Political career
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He served as mayor of Pagsanjan, Laguna from 2001 until 2010. He then ran for governor in 2010 and 2013. On May 27, 2014, the Commission on Elections unseated Ejercito after alleged overspending during the campaign for the 2013 midterm elections. Three days later, his uncle, Joseph Estrada, convinced him to step down. Despite the conviction, he attempted a comeback as governor in 2016 and 2019 but lost on both occasions to incumbent Ramil Hernandez.
On April 5, 2019, he was convicted and sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison for graft over an anomalous insurance deal when he was mayor of Pagsanjan in 2008.[6][7][8] The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on August 7, 2019, upheld its earlier ruling that also barred Ejercito from holding public office.[6][9]
Despite his conviction[10] and controversial transfer of residency,[11] Ejercito ran for mayor of Calamba in 2022, but eventually lost to Roseller Rizal.[12]
Ejercito ran for mayor of Pagsanjan in 2025.[13] However, that same year, the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the Sandiganbayan's 2019 graft conviction of Ejercito, affirming his sentence of 6 to 8 years in prison and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. This conviction stemmed from a 2008 incident where Ejercito, then mayor of Pagsanjan, awarded an insurance contract to a company lacking a license from Insurance Commission without public bidding.[14] Despite this, Ejercito was elected mayor that May.[15]
Personal life
Ejercito first married Emma Rose Policarpio, a 1987 Binibining Pilipinas contestant, in July 1987.[16] However, they later got separated.[17] He was later married to actress-politician Maita Sanchez (Girlie Javier-Ejercito in real life) in the 1990s until her death in 2024.[18] They have eight children: Emilio Ramon IV (Eric), John Paul (Jet), Jorge Antonio Genaro (Jerico), Maria Guadalupe (Jhulia), Maria Angelica Victoria (died in 2004), an unnamed child (died in 2010), Juan Diego (Diego), and Maria Gabriela (Gabby).[19][20] Three of their children also entered politics: Jerico unsuccessfully ran for vice governor of Laguna in 2022 and in 2025; Jhulia ran unsuccessfully for the Laguna Provincial Board from the 4th district in 2025; and Jet is the councilor-elect of Pagsanjan, having been elected in 2025.[13]
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Organizations
- Vice President – Knights of the Altar (1982–1987) Became Altar Boy of 5 years at St. John the Baptist Parish Church, San Juan City
- Vice President – Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT) or Philippine Cinema & Television Actors Guild, Inc. (1999–2002)
- Member – Rotary Club of Pagsanjan, Laguna
- Member – Carpa Club of Pagsanjan, Laguna
- National Presidential Adviser on Servant Leadership – The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles (TFOEPE)[21]
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Filmography
Film
Television
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Awards
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Notes
References
External links
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