‘I'm allergic to the word bribery,’ Jinggoy jokes at debates on people’s initiative

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said in jest that he has become “allergic” to the word “bribery” as he questioned the alleged payoffs in the signature campaign for the people’s initiative which seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Estrada mentioned this while he was being interpellated by Senator Pia Cayetano over his privilege speech which focused on questioning the timing of the latest move for Charter change.

“Ang problema po, Ginoong Pangulo...minsan siguro sinasabi ng mga liderato d’yan sa Mababang Kapulungan ay ‘Oh sige, sasabihin sa isang [congressman], dadagdagan ko ‘yung TUPAD mo, ‘yung AICS mo, ‘yung MAIPs mo basta magpapirma ka ng more than three percent sa iyong distrito,.’ Siyempre congressman, beholden d'on sa leader at siguro makakatulong din sa kanyang political career, eh siguro papayag 'yon,” he said.

Estrada was referring to: Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, Tulong Panghanap-Buhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, and Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients.

“’Yun ang haka-haka ko, Ginoong Pangulo. Imbes na idiretso sa taumbayan ‘yan, lalong-lalo na ‘yung nangangailangan na may sakit, ‘yung mga MAIPs na pondo...merong kaunting suhol kumbaga. Well, I don’t want to use the word ‘bribery’ dahil allergic ako sa salitang bribery,” the senator said, apparently referring to the latest decision of anti-graft court Sandiganbayan which found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery.

Estrada’s privilege speech came a day after the Senate showed a united stand against people’s initiative through a manifesto released on Tuesday.

Last week,  Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri revealed that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself bucked the efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution through people's initiative.—AOL, GMA Integrated News