DUTERTE VISIT – Best of friends Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla have been confined at the Camp Crame Custodial Center in Quezon City for the last two years.
Of course, there are lonely days and lonely nights. But then, visits of families and friends buoy up their morale.
Months before the May 9 elections, then presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte (now presumptive President) dropped by and had a long talk with Jinggoy and Bong. But they’d rather not say much about what transpired, “Nagkamustahan, nagkwentuhan, masaya ang usapan.”
Jinggoy says Duterte and his dad (former President and reelected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada) are friends from way back. He himself used to visit Mayor Duterte in Davao, entertaining him in a bar, drinking a little, but with lots of singing. “Mahilig kumanta si Mayor.”
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VICTORY – Also giving Jinggoy and Bong much joy is the political victory of their families in San Juan and Cavite, respectively.
“Still on Cloud Nine” is how Jinggoy describes the feeling of daughter Janella, elected San Juan vice mayor by a wide margin.
Bong’s wife Lani and son Jolo won by landslide as Bacoor mayor and Cavite vice governor, respectively. Also victorious is brother Strike Revilla, incoming Bacoor congressman.
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MEDIA FRIENDS – This columnist and a few colleagues recently visited Jinggoy and Bong, looking fit and trim, thanks to regular exercise.
Jinggoy reminds that by July 1, he and Bong are no longer senators, after serving the Senate for 12 straight years.
Learned that Jinggoy’s long-delayed starrer, “Tatay Kong Sexy,” is finally showing July 1. His love interest is Maja Salvador. He recalls that at the Senate he was referred to as “sexy, kaya pinanindigan ko na.”
It’s heartwarming to see their friends and employees from way back still in touch, visiting them often and being of help, including seeing to it that we were comfortable. Shalala and Lyza welcomed us warmly.
Hopefully, in time, Jinggoy and Bong will be free again.
When Jinggoy voted in nearby Xavier School, he noticed so many establishments sprouting in Greenhills. He and Bong were allowed by the Sandiganbayan to exercise their rights of suffrage. Bong voted in Bacoor.