MANILA – After the backlash for raising the hand of plunder-accused former senator Jinggoy Estrada, President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he was not endorsing the former’s senatorial bid.
Speaking to the media during the proclamation rally of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) Senate slate for the midterm elections in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan on Thursday, Duterte clarified that Estrada was not part of his Senate slate.
“(I am not endorsing Jinggoy) because I have to be true to myself,” said Duterte.
He just raised the hand of Estrada at an event in Legazpi City last week because he was there, he added.
“Nandoon siya [sa Legazpi event] eh alang-alang naman na hindi ko siya…even for just one single day masabihan mo ng kandidato mo 13 lahat. What is that to a friend? We know that he had suffered. We know that he was in prison,” said Duterte.
Duterte’s supposed endorsement of Estrada raised questions on the sincerity of the his anti-corruption drive. But Malacañang argued the former senator is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
“Former senator Estrada is charged with corruption and the Constitution says unless you are convicted with final judgment, you are presumed innocent. So the assumption is Estrada is innocent,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Monday.
“He’s been granted bail. And the reason for the court’s grant of probational liberty is anchored on the fact that evidence of guilt is not strong,” added the Palace spokesperson.
Since assuming the presidency in 2016, President Duterte has expressed his disgust on corruption and have fired a number of Cabinet members for alleged corruption./PN
