Jinggoy eyes Senate run under admin ticket in 2019

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada is eyeing to run for Senate under the administration ticket in next year's midterm elections, which could put him under the same banner as his brother, reelectionist Senator JV Ejercito.

Interviewed on Tuesday, Estrada said "negotiations" have started between him and the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party, but nothing is final yet.

"Merong negotiations, but I will just keep mum on it until it will be finalized," he said, adding he is still waiting for an official invitation to join the administration slate.

"First phase pa lang ['yung negotiations], over the phone lang. Basta ako, I will run under the administration ticket," the son of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said.

Out on bail for plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam, Estrada said he would run as an independent if the administration party will not pick him.

Reason for running

"But I will be supportive of the administration of President [Rodrigo] Duterte no matter what happens," he said, as he denied Ejercito's earlier statement that vindication from the plunder charges is his reason for running for Senate.

"Sinasabi niya (JV) na kaya ko gustong tumakbo in order for me to be vindicated. That's not true," Estrada said.

Ejercito had earlier said that he will seek reelection and wanted to be part of the administration slate. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III has said that he will fight for the inclusion of reelectionist senators to the PDP-Laban lineup.

Estrada said their father has no problem with his two sons running for Senate at the same time. "Hindi naman siya kumokontra. He wants us to run together. Ang tatay ko OK lang tumakbo kaming dalawa," he said.

Working with JV

He also said he sees no problem working with Ejercito. "I can work with him."

Ejercito, who is pushing for the anti-political dynasty bill, had said that he will not seek reelection if Estrada will run for Senate as a "supreme sacrifice."

Estrada and Ejercito's relationship became strained when the latter signed the Senate blue ribbon committee report on the pork barrel scam probe, which recommended the filing of plunder charges against Estrada and former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. —KBK, GMA News