FORMER senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday, December 18, asked members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community in Davao City to vote for him and colleague Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. during the May 2019 elections.
“Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa, ang inyong lingkod ay humihingi ng inyong mahalagang tulong sa darating na eleksyon,” Estrada said.
(I will cut through the chase. I am asking you for your support in the upcoming elections.)
“Kaya naman po, kami ni Senator Bong ay humihingi ng inyong tulong dahil ang LGBT, hindi lang sa Davao kundi sa buong Pilipinas, marami na ang mga organisasyon nito,” he said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) earlier said there is no law against premature campaigning.
The campaign period for senatorial candidates will be on February 12 to May 11, 2019. The elections will be held on May 13, 2019.
Estrada reiterated that he is innocent of the plunder charges thrown against him.
“Lagi ko pong sasabihin sa inyo, humarap sa inyo, mata sa mata na wala po kaming kasalanan sa taumbayan,” Estrada said during his speech at the 8th LGBT Davao’s yearend gathering.
Revilla was acquitted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan last December 7 while Estrada remains accused of plunder and graft over the P183 million alleged kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2004 to 2012, which were allotted to the fake non-government organizations (NGOs) of co-accused Janet Napoles.