Senator Estrada willing to go to jail, ‘just spare aging Enrile’

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada appealed on Saturday not to put Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile in jail, citing his old age.

Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. FILE PHOTOS

“Siyempre 90 years (old) na ang tao. Nakakaawa naman kahit paano. Sana huwag na nilang ikulong. Hayaan mo na kaming makulong, huwag na lang si Manong Johnny (Of course he is 90 years old. It’s a pitiful situation. I hope they won’t put him in jail. Let them jail me [and my co-accused], spare Senator Enrile),” Estrada said in a radio interview.

Estrada, Enrile and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and other individuals have been charged with plunder at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the “pork barrel” scam.

Estrada reiterated that he was willing to surrender himself to authorities once the warrant of arrest was issued against them.

“Wala naman tayong magagawa diyan kung talagang aarestuhin kami. Ako naman kusang susuko sa kanila kung mayroong ilabas na warrant of arrest ang Sandiganbayan (I can’t do anything if they’re going to arrest me. I’ll surrender myself voluntarily if they will issue a warrant of arrest from the Sandiganbayan),” he said.

He said he would not also mind if the warrant of arrest would be served whether inside or outside the Senate building.

“Ok lang. Ako naman kusa akong susuko. Sabihin lang nila kung saan nila ako gustong papuntahin. Madali akong kausapin. Kung sabihin ng pulis o ng sheriff ng Sandiganbayan, ‘Oy Senador, pumunta ka dito sa Sandigan o sa Camp Crame.’ Pupunta ako. ‘May warrant of arrest ka na.’ Walang problema sa akin iyon. I will not evade arrest,” he said.

(It’s OK. I’ll voluntarily surrender myself. All they have to do is tell me where they want me to go. I am easy to talk with. If the police or the sheriff of the Sandiganbayan told me to go to Sandigan or Camp Crame, I’d go there. If they told me they have warrant of arrest, I have no problem with that, I will not evade arrest).

“Ang masakit lang, ang mga anak ko, asawa ko, ang mga magulang ko, lalung-lalo na mayroon akong anak na maliit pa na lagi kong kasamang matulog. Wala pang kamuwang-muwang sa pulitika iyon. Walang kamuwang-muwang sa mga nangyayari sa tatay niya. Iyon ang masakit sa akin.”

“(What would hurt me the most are my children, my wife, my parents, especially my younger children, those who would sleep beside me at night. They are innocent when it comes to politics. They are clueless to what’s happening with their father. That hurts me the most).”