Jinggoy Estrada packs clothes for detention, vows to prove innocence

Published June 23, 2014 8:54am

(Updated 10:11 a.m.) Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada on Monday said he has packed his clothes in preparation for his impending arrest and detention over charges related to the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Estrada will surrender quietly at Camp Crame if an arrest warrant is issued against him by the Sandiganbayan, radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo reported earlier Monday.

He is one of three senators linked to the multibillion-peso scam. The others are Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

Estrada has been accused of pocketing P183.79 million in kickbacks from dealings with fake NGOs from 2004 to 2012.

The said NGOs were allegedly put up by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who is being tagged as the mastermind of the scam. The Ombudsman said Estrada chose bogus NGOs as "project partners" for livelihood projects financed by his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

In an interview on dzBB radio Monday, Estrada also thanked his supporters for their continued trust in him, and vowed to prove his innocence.

"Sa nagmamahal sa amin, sa aming pamilya, unang-una, nais ko kayong pasalamatan sa suporta sa amin. Asahan ninyo patutunayan muli ang kasong pinagkasasangkutan ko ay wala po akong kasalanan," he said.

When asked what he had packed inside his bags in preparation for his possible detention, he answered, "personal clothes."

But when asked if he also included insecticide spray in his bags—a reference to Revilla's comments of rats and cockroaches in his detention cell—Estrada merely laughed.

On the other hand, he said he is 101 percent sure he will be acquitted because he is innocent.

Family's support

In an interview on GMA's Unang Hirit on Monday, Estrada said he gathered his family Sunday night and asked them to be strong.

"Kagabi kinausap ko na ang aking pamilya, sama-sama kami. At sinabi ko sa kanila, asahan nila siguro bukas o itong linggo na ito lalabas na ang aking warrant of arrest. Handa naman sila. Pinalakas ko ang kanilang mga loob," he said.

He added his youngest daughter Jill, 8, wanted to sleep with him in his detention facility, but he tried to dissuade her by saying there were rats and cockroaches there.

"'Yan nga kagabi, tanong ng tanong kung pwede siya matulog kasama ko sa loob ng kulungan. Sabi ko huwag na at marami raw mga ipis at daga ... Kahit na raw, basta kasama niya ako," Estrada said.

Direct to Camp Crame

Estrada said he will directly proceed to Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame once the Sandiganbayan signs the warrant for his arrest.

"Kung saka-sakaling pinirmahan ang warrant of arrest, didiretso ako sa Camp Crame, sa mga pulis," he said.

Exercise with Bong

Estrada said he expects to see Revilla at the detention facility. He added he plans to exercise while in detention.

"Mag-eensayo siguro ako sa loob," he said.

Wedding anniversary

On the other hand, Estrada said his family surprised him by decorating the chapel in their home on Polk Street in Greenhills with a wedding theme.

Estrada and wife Precy will mark their 25th wedding anniversary on June 28.

"Kahapon sinorpresa kami ng anak ko at dinecorate ang chapel sa Polk Street, at ginawa nilang wedding style. Doon kami nag-renew ng wedding vows kahapon. Napaka-touching," he said.

In a later interview on dzBB radio, Estrada also said he had planned to celebrate the wedding anniversary in style this coming weekend, by inviting the sponsors of his wedding.

Last Friday, Revilla surrendered to the anti-graft court after it issued a warrant for his arrest on graft and plunder charges. He has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since Friday. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News

Tags: jinggoyestrada, porkbarrelscam, bantaykaban