SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada dumbed down speculations he can no longer participate in the forthcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, describing them as “premature, baseless and undermines the integrity of the impeachment process itself.”
“The issue is far from settled.
“First off, the proceedings concerning my suspension pendente lite—or suspension while litigation is pending—are still ongoing. Pursuant to the directive of the court, I have yet to file my comment and opposition and avail myself of the legal remedies available to me.
“Until a final and binding ruling is rendered, any assertion that I have been stripped of my authority to discharge my constitutional duties as a senator-judge is premature, baseless, and undermines the integrity of the impeachment process itself.
“Those claiming otherwise display a troubling disregard for due process and the orderly administration of justice,” Jinggoy said.
Early this June, Jinggoy has been ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan for graft and plunder related to the flood control project scandal.
Without giving further details for the moment, Jinggoy revealed however that he was offered a “deal” wherein his legal cases would be thrown out in exchange for his supporting the Senate bloc of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Vicente Sotto and Panfilo Lacson, the so-called ‘Senate of the Palace.’
The purported offer was first made in May when Jinggoy firmly stood behind the group of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano which ousted Sotto as Senate President on May 11.
Aside from Jinggoy, also allegedly being threatened jail terms over legal cases should they refuse to support the Gatchalian-Sotto-Lacson bloc are Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Senator Joel Villanueva. The two have since then switched side but Jinggoy remained steadfast in sticking to his principle.
Despite his arrest, Jinggoy last June 1 maintained he would not be cowed by Malacañang into submission, saying in a statement:
“Nais kong bigyan diin ang mga bagay na ito:
“I will remain firmly with the majority bloc under the leadership of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
“Hindi ako matitinag sa anumang panggigipit, pananakot, political maneuvering para talikuran ang paninindigan kong ito.
I will not yield to threats. I will not be intimidated. I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgment.
“Ngayon ko lang ito isasapubliko ito: Maraming beses akong inalok na talikuran ang independent majority bloc kapalit ang pagbabasura sa aking kaso, ngunit hindi ko ito tinanggap. “Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ako na manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc.”
This would be the third time that Jinggoy had been put in jail for plunder.
The first time was in 2001 along with his father, President Joseph Estrada, when a conspiracy of the country’s elite and Washington succeeded in removing Estrada from power.
The second was during the Noynoy Aquino presidency (2010-2016) after Jinggoy revealed that Aquino’s Malacañang offered a bribe of ₱50 million per senator to convict then Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial.
“It is regrettable that some self-proclaimed legal experts appear more interested in shaping public opinion than in respecting the proper institutions and judicial processes tasked with resolving legal controversies,” added Jinggoy, who also took up law during his college days.
“The rule of law demands restraint, discernment, and respect for due process—not speculation, conjecture, partisan rhetoric, or personal interpretations presented as settled legal truth.”