Jinggoy on Duterte not endorsing his Senate bid: I will continue to be his ally

Senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada vowed on Friday to continue supporting the Duterte administration despite not getting endorsement from the president for his comeback bid.

"I respect the recent statements made by President Duterte and the decision of the PDP-Laban regarding their preferred senatorial bets," Estrada said in a statement.

"With or without the endorsement of the President, I will continue to be an ally of this administration. My support to this administration is not diminished in any way," he added.

Estrada expressed confidence that Filipino voters would re-elect him due to his "good track record as a public servant, long list of legislative accomplishments and genuine desire to uplift the lives of the masses."

On the sidelines of the proclamation rally of five senatorial candidates of ruling party PDP-Laban, the chief executive disclosed that he is not going to endorse Estrada, nearly a week after he raised the former senator’s hand in an event in Legazpi City.

"Yes. Because I have to be true to myself. Kung ano yung sinabi ko dito, yun na yung suportahan ko,” Duterte had said.

“Nandoon siya [sa Legazpi event] eh. Alang-alang naman na hindi ko siya… Even for just one single day masabihan mo ng kandidato mo 13 lahat. What is that to a friend? We know that he has suffered. We know that he was in prison,” he added.

Aside from endorsing the PDP-Laban bets, Duterte endorsed six guest candidates composed of re-electionist Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito, Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos and singer Freddie Aguilar. 

Estrada is facing plunder charges but is currently out on bail. —Anna Felicia Bajo/ LDF, GMA News