Former senator Jinggoy Estrada gets a boost from Bongbong Marcos.
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday supported and campaigned for the senatorial bid of former senator and plunder-accused Jinggoy Estrada.
In a speech in Lucena City, Quezon Province, Marcos said he has worked with Estrada and touted his accomplishments as a legislator.
He attributed the downfall of Estrada’s career to the Aquino administration, saying Estrada was just targeted.
“Nakasama ko sa Senado at nakita naman natin na sa tagal niyang naging senador ay napakadami ng kanyang naging record na magandang mga batas na pinasa na nakatulong sa maraming tao,” he said.
(I was with Jinggoy in the Senate and we saw that in his stint as senator, he was able to pass legislation that helped a lot of people.)
“‘Yun lamang, parang napag-initan yata nang kaunti nung ating kaibigan sa Malacañang noon kaya medyo naiba ‘yung takbo nang kanyang career,” he added.
(However, it appears that our former friend in Malacañang targeted him to sabotage his career.)
READ: Jinggoy Estrada to run for Senate again in 2022 polls
Marcos was referring to still pending plunder and graft charges against Estrada for allegedly pocketing P183 million from his pork barrel.
Estrada is currently out on a P1-million bail since 2017.
READ: Jinggoy granted bail by Sandigan, will be free today
“Ngayon, tayong lahat magtutulungan tayo para ibalik siya muli sa Senado para makapagserbisyo uli,” Marcos said.
(Let’s help each other bring Estrada back to the Senate to serve the people again.)
In a separate event in Lucena City, Estrada said he is among the senatorial candidates to be included in the ticket of the “UniTeam,” which was dubbed of the tandem of Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the 2022 elections.
“Doble ang aking tuwa sapagkat ako ay isa sa napabilang bilang inyong kandidato bilang isang senador sa ilalim ng ticket ng Bongbong marcos at Inday Sara Duterte,” Jinggoy said in his speech.
(I am doubly happy because I am included under the ticket of Bongbong Marcos and Inday Sara Duterte.)
The Marcos-Duterte tandem has yet to announce its official Senate slate yet. It has so far announced as one of its senatorial candidates, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
READ: Roque joins ticket of Marcos-Duterte