Sen. Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Relax, Mr. President.
This is one of the pieces of advice of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to President Benigno Aquino III after his televised speech Monday night when he ferociously defended his Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
Estrada, who was present for his bail hearing motion on his pork barrel scam case before the Sandiganbayan, was the first senator to blow the lid on Aquino’s savings impounding mechanism, saying funds from DAP were given to senators as incentives for convicting former chief justice Renato Corona.
During his speech, the President warned the Supreme Court of a possible clash between the judiciary and executive departments, especially after the high court ruled some parts of DAP as unconstitutional.
“Sana konting hinahon lang (I hope the President can relax a little). It would not look good for the President,” Estrada told reporters after his bail hearing.
The senator facing plunder charges for his alleged involvement in the scam also advised Aquino to accept the decision of the Supreme Court.
“They will have to respect it. I hope hindi mag-clash ang executive at judiciary to avoid further crisis. Dapat magtulungan ang tatlong sangay ng gobyerno (I hope the judiciary and executive don’t clash to avoid further crisis. The three branches of government should help each other out),” Estrada said.
Estrada even said he himself has accepted that the Ombudsman filed criminal charges against him over the scam.
“Although I do not agree with the Ombudsman… I will have to accept it. That’s why I’m submitting myself to the rule of law,” Estrada said.
Estrada faces plunder and graft charges for allegedly conspiring with alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to pillage millions of state funds.
RELATED STORIES