Emilio Ramon Pelayo Ejercito III (Tagalog:[ʔɛˌhɛːɾ.sɪˈto]; born October 5, 1963), commonly 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.[1] He is the son of actor George Estregan and the nephew of former President and former Manila MayorJoseph Estrada.
Early life
Born Emilio Ramon Pelayo Ejercito III on October 5, 1963, in San Juan, 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.
Education
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.
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.[2]
Political career
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.[3][4][5] The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on August 7, 2019, upheld its earlier ruling that also barred Ejercito from holding public office.[3][6]
Despite his conviction[7] and controversial transfer of residency,[8] Ejercito ran for mayor of Calamba in 2022, but eventually lost to Roseller Rizal.[9] He is seeking a comeback as mayor of Pagsanjan in 2025.[10]
Personal life
Ejercito was married to actress-politician Maita Sanchez (Girlie Javier-Ejercito in real life) from 1987 until her death in 2024.[11] 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).[12][13] Three of their children also entered politics: Jerico unsuccessfully ran for vice governor of Laguna in 2022; Jhulia is a candidate for the Laguna Provincial Board from the 4th district in 2025; and Jet is running for councilor in Pagsanjan in 2025.[10]
Vice President – Katipunan ng mga Artistang Pilipino sa Pelikula at Telebisyon (KAPPT) or Philippine Cinema & Television Actors Guild, Inc. (1999–2002)
^Also known by his official on-screen names Jorge Estregan (sometimes spelled Jeorge), George Estregan Jr. (sometimes spelled Jorge or Jeorge), and Jeorge "E. R." Ejercito Estregan (or simply Jeorge "E.R." Estregan).
