Press Release
July 20, 2007

Jinggoy on Senate minority bloc issue: "I am my own man"

OPPOSITION stalwart Sen. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday said his decision on the choice of Senate president is not being influenced by his father, jailed president Joseph Estrada, even as dismissed insinuations being hurled by some quarters that he had already sided with the administration bloc in the upper chamber.

"I am my own man. My decisions are not influenced by my father," the senator said, adding: "I've never abandoned the opposition. I will remain as a member of the opposition during my last three years as a senator. I will never align myself with the administration. If I see, smell something anomalous about this government, I will be the first one to expose it."

He said, "It's them who say things about being half-bred, that the opposition is half-bred, the administration is half-bred," referring to some individuals who claim that the opposition is not solid. "Let's see who the real opposition is. Let's lay down our cards. Who has been standing up on issues, about the Jose Pidal, case, the Hello Garci case? You have long seen me stand up on these issues. Have you seen somebody else who has fought for the rights of the opposition?" he added.

On Senator Aqulino Pimentel Jr.'s aspiring for the Senate presidency, Estrada said, "I didn't abandon Pimentel. He and (Manuel) Villar are both with the opposition. What would be wrong is, if there's an administration candidate, for example, Arroyo or Angara , and I voted for any of them."

Estrada also said ex-Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is still with the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) party, saying "He (Enrile) just resigned as president (of the party) but he's still a member."

Estrada declined to comment on the absence of Senator Panfilo Lacson at the Opposition assembly at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan , saying, "I do not know. I cannot speak for him. But I'm not the one who organized that event. It was mayor Jojo Binay (of Makati City ). We, Sen. (Francis) Escudero, (Alan Peter) Cayetano and myself made it clear that we are not aligned with the administration, we will remain with the opposition."

On reports that he would be the Senate President pro tempore, Estrada said, "If ever they will vote for me as SP pro tempore, I'll accept it. That means I will work, I'm not asking for any position. Whatever position my fellow senators give me, I will accept it. It's not part of any deal."

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