Jinggoy still has ‘inclination to serve our people on a national level’

Senator Jinggoy Estrada. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Would former Senator Jinggoy Estrada want to return to the Senate?

Estrada, who is currently out on bail in his pork barrel case, said he has not decided yet but he plans to “go around the country” to thank his supporters.

“I haven’t decided yet but I’m going around the country to thank the people for their unwavering support,” Estrada said in ambush interview at the Sandiganbayan on Monday.

He said he has not spoken to his half-brother, re-electionist Senator JV Ejercito about their political plans for 2019.

While he has yet to decide, Estrada said he still has the “inclination to serve our people on a national level.”

Estrada then expressed confidence that the charges he was facing over his alleged involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel racket would not affect his chances of seeking another government post.

“If you remember when I first ran in 2004, I still have a pending case together with my father (Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito-Estrada). May plunder case ako ng 2004 and eventually, I was acquitted,” the ex-senator said.

Last September, Estrada walked free after spending three years in detention, posting P1.33 million bail on charges of plunder and graft.

Estrada is accused of plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P183.79 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation, commonly known as “pork barrel,” from 2004 to 2010 in a scheme allegedly masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.                /kga