Jinggoy Estrada says Guingona is only after ‘cheap publicity’

Senate blue ribbon committee chair Teofisto Guingona III and detained senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Tuesday lashed out at Senator Teofisto Guingona III, whom he described as someone who is not after the truth or justice, but only “cheap publicity.”

“The chairman seems to possess a habit of initiating inquiries and then abandoning the same without formal and definite conclusion,” Estrada said in a statement, reacting to Guingona’s reported statement that he was not keen on resuming the pork barrel investigation.

Guingona is chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee that investigated the pork barrel scam and later recommended the filing of criminal charges against three senators, including Estrada and other individuals.

“Just as the blue ribbon committee has released only a partial report on the alleged PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel) issue, it has also suddenly ditched responsibility over the investigation on the sex-for-flight modus perpetrated against our overseas Filipino workers,” Estrada said.

“The public can’t help but conclude that the chairman is not after the truth or justice, only cheap publicity,” the detained senator added.

Estrada insisted that the pork scam probe was only initiated to send him and two other colleagues to jail, apparently referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. All three have been charged with plunder and are detained at the Camp Crame in Quezon City in connection with the pork barrel scam.

“If the panel is truly interested in arriving at the truth and instituting lasting reforms, it will continue to hold hearings anytime, get to the bottom of the issue and investigate even its own allies and party mates,” Estrada said.

“Otherwise, it will throw every conceivable excuse – budget deliberation, schedule conflicts, gathering of more information, etc. – to justify its negligent inaction,” he added.

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