Koko Pimentel says no nego to get Jinggoy to PDP-Laban

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III has denied that the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is planning to include former Senator Jinggoy Estrada in its senatorial lineup.

“Not true,” Pimentel said in reaction to Estrada's claim that negotiations have started between him and the ruling party.

“There are no negotiation going on. Nothing. Nada. Hence what can I say,” said the Senate chief who is also the president of PDP-Laban.

Estrada, in an interview with reporters Tuesday, said that a member of PDP-Laban has called him.

“Merong negotiations, but I will just keep mum on it until it will be finalized. First phase pa lang, over the phone lang. Basta ako, I will run under the administration ticket,” he said.

Sought for comment on Pimentel’s remarks, Estrada stood by his statement.

“All I can say is that I received a call from someone from PDP-Laban and there are negotiations. I'm just not sure if SP (Senate President) is aware of this because I have not been in talks with him,” he said.

He said that even if the ruling party will not include him in the slate, he would run as an independent but would remain supportive to the Duterte administration.

Estrada is out on bail for his plunder case in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

Pimentel earlier said that he will fight for the inclusion of reelectionist senators, including Estrada’s estranged brother Senator JV Ejercito, to the PDP-Laban lineup.

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. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News