Estrada family prayed ‘Our Father,’ rosary for Jinggoy

Published June 23, 2014 10:13am

The family of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Sunday evening offered prayers for him to be strong when he faces possible arrest and detention over the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

In a television interview Monday, Estrada's father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, said former First Lady and Senator Luisa "Loi" Estrada also prayed the rosary for their son.

"Madasalin ang buong pamilya lalo si Dra. Loi. Doon kumukuha ng lakas ng loob. Sabi ko kay Jinggoy, na-experience na natin yan, dumaan na tayo riyan. Kaya dapat mas lakasan mo ang loob mo," the elder Estrada told GMA News' "Unang Hirit."

When asked what prayers they offered for Jinggoy, Estrada said they prayed "The Lord's Prayer." "Si Dra. Loi laging nagrorosaryo yan," he added.

Jinggoy has been accused of pocketing P183.79 million in kickbacks from dealings with fake non-government organizations 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 Jinggoy chose bogus NGOs as "project partners" for livelihood projects financed by his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Radio dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo earlier reported that Jinggoy will go straight to Camp Crame once an arrest warrant is issued by the Sandiganbayan.

On the other hand, the former Philippine leader said he advised his son to be strong when they had lunch at the elder Estrada's San Juan City residence.

The former president and the senator had been detained in 2001 shortly after the EDSA-2 revolt. The younger Estrada was acquitted on plunder charges while the elder Estrada was convicted for plunder but was pardoned by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Also, the elder Estrada lamented he and his son had always been "guilty by publicity," particularly in 2000 when he was impeached.

Yet, he said that when he was detained, his wife and Jinggoy won Senate seats in 2001 and 2004.

In the same interview, the elder Estrada said he is confident the truth will eventually come out.

"Katotohanan ang magwawagi sa bandang huli," he said. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: bantaykaban, porkbarrelscam, jinggoyestrada, erap, josephestrada