MANILA, (PNA) – Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday expressed readiness to face plunder charges filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against him and two other senators and Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion priority development assistance fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.
”I would like to let you know that I am ready to face all the accusations and charges against me because I’m innocent to any wrongdoings or irregularities in the use of PDAF in the Senate,” Estrada said in an emailed press statement.
Estrada said he is ready to answer and explain all the allegations “because I have no intention to ruin the name of our family.”
”I trust that the day will come, after the presentation of all documents and evidence in connection with the PDAF controversy, that it will be clear to all, that the accusation against me are all unfounded,” Estrada said.
”I pray that there is indeed nothing political in what is happening today because only a handful of us are being mentioned in the present controversy,” he added.
Since 2004 as a newly-elected senator, Estrada said he has exerted his best to excel as member of the Senate “with perseverance and diligence.”
”I have proven my worth as a legislator and the records of the Senate will bear me out on this,” he said.
Estrada is hoping for immediate resolution of the controversy “so that my family which is affected so much by the reports in the newspapers and televisions will finally find peace.”
Aside from Estrada, other senators named as respondents in the criminal complaint for plunder include Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile and senator Ramon Revilla Jr.