Jinggoy cites his plunder case as proof of selective justice

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. Photo from Marc Cayabyab/INQUIRER.net

SENATOR Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada backed up his partymate Vice President Jejomar Binay’s decision to resign from the Cabinet, saying his plunder case over the pork barrel scam is proof of Binay’s criticisms of selective justice under the current administration.

In an interview after his bail hearing on plunder case at the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday, the detained senator said he understands Binay’s reasons for resigning from the Aquino Cabinet for feeling like a “leper” due to the administration allies’ treatment toward him.

Estrada further backed up Binay’s criticisms of selective justice under the Aquino administration, citing the plunder and graft cases lodged against him and two other opposition senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile, while Aquino’s allies remained scot-free.

“That is a judgment call on his part. Siguro marami siyang gripes sa nakapaligid kay Pangulong Aquino. Sabi nga niya ang turing daw sa kanya parang may ketong,” Estrada said.

Asked about Binay’s statement on selective justice, Estrada said: “Yan ang totoo sa lahat ng sinabi niya.”

He criticized Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for going after the opposition while sparing administration allies allegedly involved in the purported scheme of pilfering lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) for kickbacks to the bogus foundations of accused mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

He said De Lima is using the PDAF scam for her senatorial bid.

Estrada said the delay in filing the third batch of pork barrel scam case before the Office of the Ombudsman is proof that De Lima is sanitizing the list of those who would be charged.

“Kami lang ang pinag-iinitan. Kaya pala masyadong pursigidong na iprisinto kami, dahil mayroon siyang intensyong lumaban bilang Senador. Ginagamit niya kaming tatlo, makulong lang kami,” Senator Estrada said.

“Hanggang ngayon, wala pang third batch. Eh kasi panay kaibigan niya nandun,” he added.

The third batch of the pork barrel scam case reportedly include Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan III from the Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Cabinet member and Aquino ally Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) Secretary Joel Villanueva, and Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez.

Villanueva and Rodriguez are reportedly being eyed as part of the administration’s senatorial ticket for 2016.

Villanueva was appointed Tesda Director General with a Cabinet rank by President Aquino. He served as Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Representative from the 12th to 14th Congress.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez was assigned to sponsor in Congress the proposed Bangsamoro basic law, the legislation needed to implement the government peace deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to create a more politically autonomous Bangsamoro region.

The other lawmakers said to be included in the third batch are former La Union Representatives Manuel and Victor Ortega and former Abono Representatives Conrad Estrella III and Robert Raymund Estrella, and Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing.

In his nationally televised speech at the Coconut Palace last Wednesday, Binay accused the administration of sparing allies who are also embroiled in corruption scandals, citing the outlawed Disbursement Acceleration Program, Aquino’s economic stimulus package, parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

“Ngayon, sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, ako ay pinagkaisahang siraan, hamakin, gipitin, tanggalin bilang pangalawang pangulo at ipakulong pa… At habang ako at ang aking pamilya ay ginigipit at inuusig, hinahayaan naman nila ang malawakang anomalya ng kanilang mga kasama at kapartido,” Binay said.

Calling the administration “palpak” and “manhid,” Binay also said he would not be backing out of the 2016 presidential race despite the threat of plunder and graft complaints against him over the alleged overpriced Makati Parking Building, Makati Science Building, among other purported anomalies in the infrastructure projects of Makati when he was mayor.

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