Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) – Siblings JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada, who are known for their long-standing rivalry, were seen sharing a seemingly brotherly moment onstage after being officially proclaimed as among the 12 winning senatorial candidates.

The half-brothers raised each other’s hand and shared a hug during the proclamation ceremony at the PICC Forum Tent on Wednesday.

Ejercito placed 10th in the Senate race with 15.8 million votes, while Estrada ranked 12th with 12.1 million votes.

The two are sons of former president Joseph Estrada with former San Juan City mayor Guia Gomez and former first lady Loi Ejercito, respectively.

Both are also returning to the upper chamber after losing in the senatorial election in 2019.

Ejercito – the younger sibling – served as a senator from 2013 to 2019. In 2016, he was acquitted of graft charges in connection with the supposed misuse of San Juan calamity funds.

Estrada, on the other hand, served two terms as senator from 2004 to 2016, the last two years of which were spent in jail due to plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam.

His brother was among those who signed the Senate committee report recommending the filing of the charges against him and other lawmakers involved in the scam. After three years in jail, he was released on bail in 2017, although his plunder case remains pending.

In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Ejercito said he hopes for a “professional” work relationship with his brother in the Senate but admitted “it will take time for [their] relationship to heal.”