Jinggoy Estrada, 59, is an actor, film producer and politician. He is the eldest son of former President Joseph Estrada and former senator Luisa P. Ejercito Estrada.
Before serving two consecutive terms as a senator until 2016, Estrada held posts in his family’s bailiwick, San Juan City, as vice mayor in 1988 and then three consecutive terms as mayor until 2001.
He won his first senatorial race in 2004, some three years after his father’s impeachment trial and subsequent resignation. The former president was arrested and faced plunder charges in April 2001, along with supposed co-conspirators including the younger Estrada who was accused of collecting jueteng money in Bulacan and keeping kickbacks for himself during his last term as San Juan mayor.
Estrada was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in 2007, unlike his father who was convicted and sentenced to reclusion perpetua but later pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
During his first term in the Senate, he principally authored 20 laws. He was reelected in 2010 and served as Senate president pro tempore for both terms.
Estrada was among those charged by the Ombudsman in 2014 for plunder and several counts of graft, for allegedly receiving at least P183.8 million in kickbacks from Janet Napoles for endorsing her fake non-governmental organizations to implement projects to be funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2004 to 2012. The PDAF or so-called pork barrel fund system was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on Nov. 19, 2013.
Estrada was arrested and detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in June 2014 and was suspended by the Senate in September 2014 for 90 days. Estrada was granted bail and released in September 2017 but his plunder case remains pending.
While he was detained, his half-brother Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito was among the legislators who signed a Senate committee report on the pork against Estrada and former Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile, sparking an ongoing feud between the half-brothers. Both he and Ejercito launched failed senatorial bids in 2019.
Estrada is campaigning on continuing his advocacy and legislative work on labor. He recently expressed support for the mandatory vaccination of workers.
He is running under the UniTeam senatorial slate of fellow presidential children Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., son and namesake of the late ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and Sara Duterte, mayor of Davao City and daughter of the incumbent president. Estrada also recently secured the endorsement of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
- Push for the creation of two national agencies (the National Employment Assistance Center and National Manpower Data and Placement Center) to help match skills and labor opportunities for millions of Filipinos displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Ensure the receipt of appropriate benefits and allowances by workers who choose to work under a hybrid work model, which would be offset by the employers’ savings from office utilities and rent
Push for measures to provide support to industries severely affected by the pandemic including wage subsidies to allow factories to keep their roster of workers
Strengthen the agricultural sector
Major Accomplishments
Public Office
Estrada started his political career in San Juan, the bailiwick of the Estrada clan, and served as its vice mayor and mayor from 1988 to 2001.
As mayor, Estrada spearheaded local infrastructure projects including the construction of modernized barangay halls with daycare centers in all barangays, public elementary schools, recreation centers like gymnasiums, basketball courts and playgrounds.
During his 12 years in the Senate, Estrada principally authored 20 laws, including the Green Jobs Act of 2016, the Domestic Workers Act of 2016, the Food Safety Act of 2013, the Foster Care Act of 2012 and the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. He was also twice elected as Senate president pro tempore.
Estrada has faced plunder charges twice. He was arrested and tried for his involvement in the jueteng scandal that ultimately led to his father’s impeachment and resignation in January 2001–particularly, for collecting jueteng money in Bulacan and keeping kickbacks for himself, from 1999 to 2000 or during his last term as San Juan mayor. He was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in 2007 due to the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond unreasonable doubt.
In 2013, the Commission on Audit released a special audit report on the alleged misuse of PDAF funds by lawmakers from 2007 to 2009, triggering a Senate probe in late August of that year.
On Sept. 12, 2013, pork barrel scam whistleblower Benhur Luy confirmed that he transacted with the offices of the three senators identified in the special audit report: Estrada, Enrile and Revilla. That same month, plunder charges were filed by the justice department against Napoles, the three senators and other individuals.
The Senate blue ribbon committee released a list of government officials with whom Napoles transacted, which list included Estrada. In June 2014, Estrada and the others accused were charged by the Ombudsman for plunder and several counts of graft. They allegedly received at least P183.8 million in kickbacks from Napoles for endorsing her fake non-governmental organizations to implement the projects to be funded by his Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2004 to 2012. The PDAF or so-called pork barrel fund system was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on Nov. 19 2013.
Estrada was arrested and detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame in June 2014, and later preventively suspended by the Senate in September 2014, for 90 days, in accordance with an order issued by the Sandiganbayan. Estrada was granted bail and released in September 2017 after more than three years in detention. His plunder case remains pending, amid delays partly due to the pandemic, after the Sandiganbayan denied his bid to dismiss the case via demurrer to evidence in 2019.
He ran an unsuccessful bid for the Senate in 2019 and remained in the private sector.
On May 3, 2020, Estrada was arrested by members of the PNP over alleged violations of enhanced community quarantine rules in San Juan City, including failure to observe physical distancing while distributing relief goods. Estrada’s daughter and former vice mayor of San Juan City, Janella Estrada, said the arrest was politically motivated. Her rival and incumbent Mayor Francis Zamora insisted that former Senator Estrada did not have a quarantine pass and failed to coordinate with the local government, in violation of directives issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government in April 2020. Estrada was released with a warning after three hours at the San Juan City Police Station.
The warning that Estrada earned for such violations caused some criticism, comparing the relatively light penalty imposed on him to the harsher treatment that less prominent and ordinary citizens received especially during the early weeks of the pandemic-induced lockdown.
Principal author, 2016
Approved by the president on Apr. 29, 2016
Principal author and principal sponsor, 2010-2012
Approved by the president on Jan. 18, 2013
(Sole) principal author and principal sponsor, 2011-2013
Approved by the president on Mar. 14, 2013
Principal author and principal sponsor, 2011
Approved by the president on June 21, 2011
Principal author, 2012-2013
Approved by the president on June 17, 2013
Private Sector
Estrada followed in his father’s footsteps, acting in movies before and throughout his political career. He also produced a number of films.
- Coming Home (2020)
- Ang Tatay Kong Sexy (2016)
- Katas ng Saudi (2007)
- Col. Elmer Jamias: Barako ng Maynila (2000)
- Hiwaga ng Panday (1998)
- Estribo Hang: The Jinggoy Sese Story (1992)
- Sa Kuko ng Agila (1989)
- Markang Rehas: Ikalawang Aklat (1985)
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
Pending Actions and/or Proceedings
Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Accrued Liability | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Plunder and graft charges were filed against Estrada allegedly receiving at least P183.8 million in kickbacks from Napoles for endorsing her fake non-governmental organizations to implement the projects to be funded by his PDAF from 2004 to 2012 |
The Department of Justice filed plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman on Sept. 16, 2013 The Ombudsman filed plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan on June 6, 2014 Estrada was arrested and detained by the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame on June 23, 2014 Estrada was released on bail, set at P1.3 million (P1 million for plunder and P330,000 for 11 counts of graft) in Sept. 16, 2017 |
Reclusion perpetua to death (R.A. No. 9346, approved by the president on June 24, 2006, prohibits the imposition of the death penalty) and forfeiture of ill-gotten assets in favor of the government | The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division dismissed Estrada’s demurrer to evidence on June 14, 2019, The case remains pending, although hearings were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
Resolved Actions and/or Proceedings
Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Accrued Liability | Status |
---|---|---|---|
A plunder case was filed against former President Estrada, eldest son Jinggoy Estrada and several associates in relation to the following allegations:
Jinggoy Estrada was accused of collecting jueteng money in Bulacan and keeping kickbacks for himself, from 1999 to 2000 |
Case was commenced on April 4, 2001, when the information was filed with the Sandiganbayan The Estradas surrendered to the PNP on Apr. 25, 2001 Jinggoy was eventually allowed to post bail in August 2003 in the amount of P500,000 to be paid in case |
Jinggoy Estrada was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in its decision dated Sept. 12, 2007 due to the prosecution’s failure to prove guilt beyond unreasonable doubt |
Also known as SALN, this document is a declaration of one's personal finances. Philippine Law requires the SALN to be submitted by all public officials and employees to the Ombudsman. Public officials and employees may opt to voluntarily disclose their SALN to the public.
Key details about the candidate's campaign
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
Luisa “Loi” Pimentel Ejercito-Estrada, mother, former senator and psychiatrist
Jake Ejercito
Jerika Ejercito
Jacob Ejercito
Jude Ejercito
Jackie Ejercito
Jojo Ejercito
Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, half-brother, former mayor and representative of the lone district of San Juan and former senator
Married, Ma. Presentacion Vitug-Ejercito, 1989-present
Julian Estrada
Joseph Luis Manuel Estrada
Janella Marie Estrada, former San Juan City vice mayor
Julienne Estrada
• A.B. Economics, University of the Philippines Manila
• Doctor of Humanities, Laguna State Polytechnic University
• Senator, Senate of the Philippines, 2005-2016
• Senate president pro tempore, 2007, 2010
• Acting Senate President, June 15-30, 2013
• Mayor, San Juan City, 1992-2001
• Vice Mayor, San Juan City, 1988-1992
• Actor, 1980s to present
Learn more about this candidate
Major Accomplishments
Private Sector
Principal author, 2016
Lapsed into law on June 30, 2016
Principal author, 2011-2012
Approved by the president on Mar. 27, 2012
Principal author, 2008-2009
Approved by the president on Dec. 11, 2009
Principal author and co- sponsor, 2010-2012
Approved by the president on June 11, 2012
Amending for the purpose provisions of R.A. No. 7323, otherwise known as the Special Program For Employment Of Students; and R.A. No. 10917, or an Act amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 9547
Principal author and principal sponsor of R.A. 9547, 2012-2013
Principal author of R.A. No. 10917, 2016
Approved by the president on Apr. 1, 2009
Lapsed into law on June 30, 2016