SAN FERNANDO CITY, Philippines — Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday maintained his innocence over the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in 2014, claiming that he was a victim of the Aquino administration’s “selective justice.”
Estrada, who is seeking a Senate return in the May elections, made the remark during the initial campaign event of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), the regional party of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
In his speech during the HNP kickoff event in San Fernando Capitol Provincial grounds, the plunder defendant said he and his fellow accused, former senators Bong Revilla and Juan Ponce Enrile, were victims of “selective justice.”
Former senator Jinggoy Estrada (center, right) raises the hand of brother reelectionist Sen. JV Ejercito during Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s campaign launch in San Fernando City in Pampanga on Feb. 12, 2019. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
READ: Ex-IBP head accuses Aquino admin of selective justice
“Pinagbakasyon kami nung nakaraaang administrasyon (dahil) sa walang basehang kaso,” Estrada said.
“Pwede kaming humarap ni Bong, at sabihin sa inyo wala kaming kasalanan sa taumbayan. Kami ay napag-initan lang nung nakaraang administrasyon. Biktima lang kami ng selective justice,” he added.
Estrada has been out on bail since September 2017. He was accused of pocketing P183 million in kickbacks from fake projects, allegedly with help of the scam’s purported mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
Estrada and Revilla are included in HNP’s 13-man senatorial slate. /cbb