Jinggoy prays for detractors

MANILA, Philippines - He will pray for “enlightenment” for those accusing him, as well as those who will judge him.

This Holy Week, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is among those facing plunder charges in connection with the pork barrel scam, is praying for the enlightenment of his detractors.

“Will also pray for the ombudsman and Sandiganbayan justices, hope they will be enlightened not to judge us unfairly,” he said in a phone interview from the US, where he and his family are on vacation.

“I will pray for my detractors this Holy Week. I will pray for them to be enlightened, to be humane and not to be opportunists,” he said.

Estrada also denied reports that he might exact revenge against those who accused him of misusing his pork barrel funds from 2007 to 2009, which is the basis of the plunder complaint filed against him.

“I am not a vindictive person. I strongly believe that in the end, God will be always be the judge,” he said.

He said he is leaving his fate to God amid reports that the Sandiganbayan might issue warrants of arrest against him and his co-accused after the official visit of US President Barrack Obama this month.

“Revenge is not mine. It is up to the Lord,” he said.

He also distanced himself from the statement of his half-brother, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, that he will follow his conscience, not family or political party, in signing the report of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on its investigation into the pork barrel scam.

Only six senators have so far signed the report, which supported the filing of plunder charges against the three senators and three others tagged in the pork barrel scam.

“Whatever, I don’t care if he signs the committee report or not…. It is just an instrument to make some people look good before the public,” he said. –With Paolo Romero