Jinggoy Estrada made a revelation against the minority bloc
Senator Jinggoy Estrada claimed that the Senate Minority Bloc offered him to leave the Majority Bloc for the dismissal of his plunder case.
Estrada faces plunder charges for the third time. To recall, after his father, former President Erap Estrada, was impeached, the Senator was accused of receiving ill-gotten wealth from protection money linked to the illegal numbers game jueteng back in 2001.
This situation was repeated in 2014 when he was accused of siphoning off ₱183.79 million of his “pork barrel” funds to fake non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Estrada was acquitted in both cases.
However, this year, his legal battle once again started, and it was because of his alleged involvement in the ₱573-million kickback scheme involving flood control projects in Bulacan.
As he surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said during his media conference that the minority offered him to transfer to their side, based on the report from Bandera.
“Maraming beses po akong inalok na talikuran ang independent majority bloc, kapalit ng pagbabasura sa aking kaso,” Estrada said.
The actor-turned-politician stressed that he did not give in to the offer. “Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ko, na ako’y manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc,” he said.
Then, Estrada teased about whoever offered him to transfer in exchange for the dismissal of his case. “I stand my ground, ngayon kung tatanungin n’yo kung sino sila, abangan ninyo ang susunod na kabanata.” the lawmaker said.
He also stressed that he refused the offer from the minority bloc not just because he is standing for his personal issues and case. The lawmaker pointed out that the more important thing in this is the independence of the Senate, which “must never become vulnerable to external pressure.”