No take three – Jinggoy Estrada
Just like in the movies, former Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada does not like his life to have a “take three” after being jailed twice on graft charges.
“Naka take two na ako (I have gone through the ‘take two’ phase). Lesson learned? I will be careful the next time around,’’ Estrada said in a DWIZ radio interview yesterday.
This was a week after the Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court, allowed him to post bail for his temporary liberty.
“I was careless,’’ he added. He did not elaborate as he has not yet decided whether to go back to politics.
Estrada refused to go into the details of the anti-graft charges against him initiated by then Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary and now Sen. Leila de Lima.
Ironically, De Lima is detained in a room at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Detention Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City near Estrada’s room. The Duterte administration has accused her of being linked to the antiillegal drug trade.
Asked to talk about his plunder case, Estrada refused. He stayed at the PNP custodial center for three years.
He said his trial proper has not yet started since he and two other senators – Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong’ Revilla Jr. – were indicted for plunder arising from the R10-billion pork barrel (Countrywide Development Assistance Fund) scam which exploded almost four years ago.
Like Estrada, Revilla is also a movie actor.
On the first take, young Estrada was detained at the Veterans Medical Memorial hospital along with his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada for two years.
For the moment, Estrada said he is enjoying the company of his family.
He said he attends the regular Estrada family Sunday reunion and is happy as he sees happiness in the eyes of his parents, former President Estrada, and his mother, former First Lady and Senator Loi.
In the radio interview, young Estrada said he was with Bong Revilla at his (Revilla’s) room at the PNP custodial center. Bong Revilla will celebrate his birthday tomorrow.
He said he visits Bong almost every day since his release from his detention center.
He said life at the custodial center is hard. While Bong exercises being a health nut, Estrada said he enjoys eating.
Enrile, 94, who was allowed by the Supreme Court to post bail earlier said he called up young Estrada to wish him well and advised him to enjoy the company of his family and rest before they see each other.
Since his release, young Estrada said he has no communication yet from his half-brother, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.