Jinggoy Estrada says graft case won’t affect his job as senator

Senator Jinggoy Estrada answers reporters’ questions at the Senate in Pasay City in this file photo taken on July 4, 2022. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daniza Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines —  Senator Jinggoy Estrada assured on Tuesday that his graft case will not affect his performance as a public servant.

“It won’t affect me in any way. In fact, when I ran in 2004, and I won, I also had a pending case before the Sandiganbayan. It never affected me in any way,” he said on ANC’s Headstart.

“I’ll continue my job as a senator. Hindi ko iintindihin ‘yung aking kaso. Hindi ko iisipin ‘yung kaso habang ako’y nagtatrabaho,” he added.

(I’ll continue my job as a senator. I will not mind my case. I will not think of my case while I’m working.)

In 2017, Estrada was released from jail after he posted a bail of P1.33 million for his plunder and graft cases in relation with the pork barrel fund scam. He was in detention for three years.

He likewise faced a different plunder case involving his father, former President Joseph Estrada, in 2001. The younger Estrada was then acquitted.

Estrada secured a seat in the Congress’ upper chamber after getting 15 million votes in the May 9 elections.

He committed to push for improved workers’ welfare, filing 10 priority bills that are labor-related during the opening of the 19th Congress.

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