Jinggoy respects non-inclusion in PDP’s Senate slate

Former Sen. Jose Jinggoy Estrada
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada said Friday that he understands if the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan would exclude him from its senatorial slate in favor of his brother, Sen. JV Ejercito.

“Having been considered in the first place was already an honor. It’s a party decision and I understand and respect that,” Estrada said in a statement.

He is prepared to go for it alone, said Estrada, who is out on bail for his plunder case.

“I can and will campaign on my own,” he said.

He also said that whether or not he was included in the administration slate, he would remain supportive of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Estrada earlier said somebody from PDP-Laban had approached him about joining the slate, though Pimentel, a top party official, denied this.

Estrada’s name was not among the potential candidates that Pimentel disclosed were being considered for inclusion in the party line-up.

Estrada is ranked eighth to 15th in the latest Pulse Asia survey of potential senatorial candidates. He said he was humbled by the result.

“It’s enough affirmation of the trust and confidence of the public,” he said.

The same survey ranked his brother Ejercito in the 10th to 19th slot.

Ejercito said it was probably a first in Philippine politics if he and his brother both run for the Senate in the 2019 elections.

“This will definitely be a tough challenge,” he said.

“Hoping that performance, track record and clean, unblemished record as a public official willm help pull it through,” he added. /jpv

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