Jinggoy Estrada formally declares Eleksyon 2022 senatorial bid

Former senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday announced that he will run for a Senate seat again in Eleksyon 2022.

In an online event, he declared his senatorial bid under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino party.

He earlier said he was inclined to run for senator in next year's national elections. 

"The Senate records will bear witness to my performance as a senator," Estrada said in his speech on Wednesday, noting that he had co-authored or introduced 617 bills while in the upper chamber.

Estrada faces charges of plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P183.8 million in kickbacks by allocating his pork barrel to fake non-government organizations allegedly owned by Janet Lim Napoles. He has been out on bail since 2017.

"Ngayon ay tumatayo ako sa inyong harapan, sa inyong mga cellphone screens at monitors. Ilang ulit nang hinusgahan, inakusahan, pinagbintangan, at na-bash ang aming pangalan. Ngunit hindi tayo natinag," he said.

[Now I stand before you, on your cellphone screens and monitors. Time and again our name has been judged, accused, blamed and bashed. But we remain unshaken.]

Estrada added that he expects many to use the cases against him.

"Maraming gagamit o magka-capitalize sa aking kaso [Many will use or capitalize on the cases filed against me]. Pero ako, as far as I'm concerned, I will leave it up to the court," he said when asked if the pork barrel scam will affect his chances to win as senator.

"As far as I am concerned, I am innocent of all the charges filed against me," he added.

No more rift with JV

Estrada's bid also comes after his half-brother, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, announced his own Senate comeback bid.

In the 2019 midterm elections, Ejercito blamed Estrada for his loss, saying that the public's votes were divided as a result. 

Estrada said that he hopes the both of them will win, and for there to be no more rift between them this time.

"That is one of our major concerns. Ayoko na maulit yung nangyari noong 2019 elections. Ang panalangin ko na lang manalo kaming dalawa sapagka't ang dugong nananaig sa amin ay 'yung paglingkod ng tapat sa taumbayan," he further said.

[I don't want to repeat the events of the 2019 elections. My wish is that we both win in the polls because we are both fueled by our service to the public.]

Ejercito is also welcome to join the senatorial lineup of the PMP, Estrada said.

"Kung gusto niya, why not, kahit bukas pirmahan ko na CONA niya," he said.

[If he wants to join us, why not, I can sign his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance tomorrow.]

When pressed if he already talked to Ejercito, Estrada admitted that they had a 15-minute talk three weeks ago about their 2022 plans.

He revealed that Ejercito initially planned to run for a local post in San Juan City, their hometown.

"He was thinking of running in San Juan pero sabi niya, 'Give me one week to decide.' Then after one week, I heard from a  mutual friend that he is running for the Senate," said Estrada.

Alliance with HNP

Estrada also revealed that he is forging an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

He is also hoping that Duterte will run for president, even though she has said she will not. 

Estrada also said he is open to getting "adopted" by the political parties of Senator Panfilo Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III and even Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, the rival of his father former President Joseph Estrada in the 2019 mayoral polls.

"Ako kahit ilang mag-adopt sa akin; of course, malaking karangalan sa atin 'yan [I'm okay with however many adopt me; of course, it is a big honor for me]," he said.

"Why not? Why not? Kung welcome sila, bakit hindi [If they welcome me, why not]?" Estrada also responded when asked by a reporter if he is open to joining Moreno's party-list. — BM, GMA News