Jinggoy Estrada on Senate comeback: I haven’t decided yet

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada. (Photo: Jinggoy Estrada/ Facebook)

While still undergoing trial for plunder and graft in line with his alleged role in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, former senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday revealed that he is eyeing the possibility of running for a Senate seat in 2019.

“I haven’t decided yet eh, pero siyempre nandun pa rin ’yung inclination natin to serve our people on a national level (but of course there is still the inclination to serve our people on a national level),” Estrada said in a chance interview with reporters on the sideline of his plunder case hearing at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

While Estrada said nothing is final yet about his political plans in 2019, he is already “going around the country.”

“I’m going around the country to thank the people for their unwavering support,” he added.

The former senator earlier announced that he plans to go on a nationwide “thank you tour” the moment he steps his foot out of detention last September 16, 2016, after the Sandiganbayan granted him bail in the non-bailable offense of plunder for allegedly pocketing P183.79 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Estrada has also expressed confidence that his pending trial would not affect his political comeback.

“There’s no [effect]. If you remember when i first ran in 2004, I still had an outstanding case, a pending case together with my father, a plunder case in 2004, and eventually I was acquitted,” Estrada said, referring to the Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict against former President Joseph Estrada in 2007 but acquitted Jinggoy of all charges.

Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, Estrada’s half-brother, had earlier said in a television interview that he is not considering a re-election as a senator in 2019 if Estrada will also run for a seat at the Senate.

“Di ako papayag na dalawang member ang tatakbo. Kung sakali I will do the supreme sacrifice (I won’t allow that two members of the family will run. If ever, I will do the supreme sacrifice),” the senator said.

Estrada said he hasn’t conversed with Ejercito regarding the matter.

The former senator was also quick to get rid of speculations that he would run as mayor of San Juan City.

“No, that’s not true. Panay rumors, panay gossip,” Estrada said. Asked if Ejercito will run for a local seat, Estrada said he would not know.  Before he became senator, Estrada was a long time mayor of San Juan.