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NEWS, SOAPS. Senator Jinggoy Estrada says this is what he
wants in jail to
spend his time while his pork barrel scam trial is ongoing.
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MANILA,
Philippines – Senator Jinggoy Estrada is anxious about his second arrest for
plunder but this early, he already has a list of things to do to kill time in
jail.
The senator
said he wants to keep himself updated about current events and his favorite
soap operas, and will make a special request to the anti-graft court
Sandiganbayan.
“Sinabi ni
[Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Benjamin] Magalong na
walang aircon, TV at gadgets. Pero sana mag-request na
magkaroon ng TV. Senador pa naman kami. Gusto naming malaman anong
nangyayari sa labas,” Estrada said in a press briefing in Manila on
Thursday, June 19.
(Director
Magalong told me there is no aircon, TV and gadgets in jail. But I hope we can
request to have a TV. We are still senators and we want to know what is
happening outside.)
Recalling his
first time in jail, Estrada said he wants not just any television, but one with
cable.
“Ginagawa ko
noon mag-exercise Monday to Friday, manood ng teleserye, kain tapos tulog.
Gusto ko na cable para sa teleserye,” he said. (What I used to do
before was exercise from Monday to Friday, watch soap operas, eat then sleep. I
want cable for the soap operas.)
Estrada was first arrested and detained for plunder in 2001, along with
his father former President now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. Father and son
were accused of receiving payoffs from the illegal numbers game jueteng but
the younger Estrada was acquitted while his father was convicted but pardoned.
The senator
said that his wife, Precy, already suggested an activity for him in jail.
“Gusto na
akong turuan ng asawa ko gumawa ng loom band pero gawaing pambabae
eh. Pero kung walang magawa sa kulungan, gagawa na ako. Pero wala akong
pagbebentahan doon kasi ang inmates ko, dalawa lang,” he said, referring
to co-accused Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr and Juan Ponce Enrile.
(My wife
already wants to teach me to make loom bands but that is an activity for women.
But if I really have nothing to do in jail, I will start making loom bands. But
there’s no one I can sell my bands to because I have only two fellow inmates.)
Estrada,
Revilla and Enrile were charged with plunder and graft before the Sandiganbayan.
They supposedly conspired with alleged mastermind Janet Lim Napoles to endorse her fake non-governmental organizations as
recipients of their pork barrel or discretionary funds meant for the poor.
The 3
allegedly got millions of pesos in kickbacks in exchange.
Bible for
Bong, novena for Jinggoy
Estrada
ribbed bosom buddy and fellow actor Revilla for saying that he will use jail
time to ready the Bible.
“Lagi kasi
akong nagdadasal eh. Si Senator Bong, hindi nagdadasal eh,” Estrada said. (I
always pray but Senator Bong doesn’t.)
Turning
serious, Estrada had some words for Revilla, who was ordered arrested on Thursday afternoon, just about an hour
after his press conference.
“Siyempre
first time lang niya. ‘Di pa sanay makulong iyan. Advice: stay cool. Laging
magdasal.” (Of course, it’s just his first time. He is not yet used to
getting jail. My advice: stay cool. Always pray.)
Estrada said
he learned this during his first time in jail, when his mother, former Senator
Loi Estrada, noticed that he was restless and wanted to get out soon.
“Binigyan
niya ako ng novena prayers. Sabi ipagdasal ko para makalabas ako.
Pinagdasal ko na lahat ng santo, Saint Jude, etc. Naging barkada ko
na nga eh! Sabi ko, ‘Ma, bakit ‘di pa ako nakakalabas?’ Tumawa lang siya.
‘Basta kumapit ka sa Panginoon.’It worked naman for me.”
(My mother
gave me novena prayers. She said I should pray for my release. I prayed to all
the saints, Saint Jude, etc. They already became my buddies! I asked, “Mom, how
come I’m still in jail?” She just laughed and said, “Just hang on to the Lord.”
It worked for me.)
As for
Enrile, Estrada said he is in touch with his mentor via phone almost every day.
“I have pity on him. He’s already 90 years old.”
Still, he
said that Enrile told him, “You better be strong. Don’t think about it. We can
handle this.”
Estrada said
the legal luminary boosts his morale and guides him in his defense.
The senator
added that he already bid his Senate staff goodbye before session ended last
week. “I told my staff: Don’t cry for me. I shall return.”
He also asked
Senators Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Pia Cayetano to defend his two labor
bills while he is in jail.
Estrada said
that among his colleagues, he will miss fellow minority members Senators Nancy
Binay and Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Asked about
his estranged half-brother Senator JV Ejercito, he said, “Mahirap nang
magsalita. Ang mga mabait sa akin, mami-miss ko.” (It’s hard to say. Those who
are kind to me, I will miss.)
New movie
title: My ‘Sexy’ Dad
Estrada still
found humor in his situation, using a play of words on his codename in the pork barrel files “Sexy.”
“Actually,
only a few of you might know that I made a movie before this scam came out,
with Maja Salvador. It was not released. It was about family, that I am the
father of the bride. But I asked them to change the title to, ‘Ang daddy
kong Sexy’ (My Sexy Dad) from the original title, ‘Daddyguard.’”
Asked about
the lesson he learned from the plunder controversy, Estrada said he did not
regret his actions as a politician.
“If this is
the price I have to pay, so be it. Alam ko politics is a dirty game
but I will never give up. Ito kinagisnan ko. Masaya akong tulungan ang
aking mga kababayan. Sa lahat ng bumabatikos, ‘di kayo ang dahilan sa pagsuko
ko sa aking laban.”
(This is the
world I grew up in. I am happy to help our countrymen. To all those criticizing
me, you will not be the reason for me to surrender from this battle.) –
Rappler.com
