Since the courts rejected his plea to attend the last session days at the Senate, detained Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada took to Facebook to “deliver” his final privilege speech.
Estrada had earlier asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to be allowed to attend the Senate’s last session day on June 6, the final session day of the 16th Congress, but was denied.
The outgoing senator is currently facing allegations of graft and corruption for purportedly using his Priority Development Assistance Fund or the “pork barrel” funds to fund bogus non-government organizations operated by alleged mastermind businesswoman Janet L. Napoles.
In his Facebook post, Estrada posted his farewell speech and thanked his supporters, friends, and staff members, including Senate employees, who helped him during his stint as a senator. Estrada’s term ends on June 30 and is considered one of the “graduating” senators.
He also thanked his colleagues who visited him and Sen. Ramon “Bong Revilla Jr. in Camp Crame, Quezon City where they are detained. Revilla is also facing the same charges.
“I’m thankful to my colleagues who visited us here at Crame when we were jailed. They are Senators (Sonny) Angara, (Serge) Osmeña, (Grace) Poe, (Lito) Lapid, (Gringo) Honasan, (Nancy) Binay, (Vicente) Sotto, (Loren) Legarda, (Ralph) Recto, (Chiz) Escudero, and (Bam) Aquino,” Estrada said in his post, the text written in Filipino.
He also thanked Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile for giving him advice and guidance for 12 years. Enrile was also one of the senators detained for their involvement in the P10-billion pork barrel scam but was allowed to post bail by the Sandiganbayan.
“I can say that you are the most brilliant amongst all of us!” Estrada said. (Hannah L. Torregoza)