Jinggoy files candidacy for senator in 2019 polls

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2019 midterm elections.

Estrada will run for senator under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party of his father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Estrada’s filing of COC formally launches his political fight with half-brother JV Ejercito, who will also compete in next year’s senatorial race. Ejercito recently left PMP and is now a candidate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

“I have never abandoned my parent’s party,” Estrada said.

He said that his performance when he was still senator will help him win the elections.

“‘Yung aking track record sa Senado [is good]. Marami tayong panukalang batas na naging batas (My track record in the Senate is good. I have authored a lot of bills that became law),” said Estrada, who even joked he is the second most “prolific” senator, next to late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

He also said that his being in jail for more than three years on plunder and graft charges for his involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam will not hamper his candidacy, believing it will even boost his chances of winning the 2019 senatorial race.

Estrada thinks the public might have sympathy for him over his detention.

Estrada as well as former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. have been linked to the P10-billion pork barrel scam, where government funds were transferred to bogus non-government organizations allegedly set-up by Janet Lim-Napoles.

Revilla, who is still in jail also on plunder and graft charges, declared his intention to run for senator in the 2019 elections. Enrile, who is facing plunder charges and was only allowed to post bail due to his advanced age and poor health condition, has announced Tuesday that he wants “to join the fun” so he is running for senator in the elections next year. /kga

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