Jinggoy Estrada

Infobox Officeholder
name = Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada


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order =
office = Senator of the Philippines
term_start = 2004
term_end =
order2 =
office2 = Senate President Pro-Tempore
term_start2 = 2007
term_end2 =
order3 =
office3 = Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila
term_start3 = 1992
term_end3 = 2001
order4 =
office4 = Vice Mayor of San Juan, Metro Manila
term_start4 = 1988
term_end4 = 1992
order5 =
office5 =
term_start5 =
term_end5 =
order6 =
office6 =
term_start6 =
term_end6 =
birth_date = birth date and age|1963|01|23
birth_place = Manila, Philippines
death_date =
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nationality =
party = Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino
spouse = Ma. Presentacion Vitug
relations = Joseph Estrada (father)
children =
residence = San Juan City
alma_mater =
occupation = Actor, Producer
profession =
religion =


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Jose Pimentel Ejercito (born on February 17, 1963), better known as Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, is a former action star, and the current senator in the Philippines. He was born to former President Joseph Estrada and former senator Luisa Estrada. He is the half brother of incumbent San Juan City Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito.

He was born as Jose P. Ejercito in Manila, Philippines. He attended elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Manila University, and obtained a degree in economics from the University of the Philippines. He was mayor of San Juan from 1992 until 2001. He was elected to the senate in 2004, where his term is set to expire in 2010. Estrada married Presentacion "Precy" Vitug-Ejercito in 1989.

On July 23, 2007, Jinggoy was voted Senate president pro tempore, while Kiko Pangilinan is majority leader (following the assumption of Sen. Manny Villar to the chamber's leadership of the 14th Congress). [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/52248/Jinggoy-voted-Senate-president-pro-tempore-Kiko-is-majority-leader GMA NEWS.TV, Jinggoy voted senate president pro-tempore] ]

On August 15, 2007, the Supreme Court (Voting 13-0), in an 18-page decision upheld the Sandigabayan's decision to grant bail to Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada in connection with his plunder case now awaiting promulgation before the graft court. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/56118/SC-upholds-bail-for-Jinggoy GMA NEWS.TV, SC upholds bail for Jinggoy] ]

On September 11, 2007 Estrada introduced Senate bill 1556, proposing to make ROTC mandatory for all college students, male and female.

Plunder Trial

"The following two paragraphs mostly refer to the trial against Jinggoy Estrada's father, not to the person of Jinggoy himself. Most of it is out of place in an article on Jinggoy Estrada."

Teresita Leonardo De Castro heads the Sandiganbayans (the anti-graft court's) special division on the plunder case against Estradas father, former president Joseph E. Estrada. On September 6, 2007, she and Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Francisco Villaruz were assigned 2 extra bodyguards on the initiative of the Sheriff (after getting threatening messages from an anonymous person). Renato Bocar, executive clerk of court confirmed the “"new face" in De Castro’s office who has been “"acting like a bodyguard"." [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/59209/Sandigan-justices-get-extra-guards-over-threats GMA NEWS.TV, Sandigan justices get extra guards over threats ] ]

On September 7, 2007, the Leonardo De Castro announced that the graft court would promulgate the judgment on September 12, 2007 in the 6-year-old plunder trial (October 2001 to June 15, 2007) of ousted President Estrada. The verdict also included Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as well as and lawyer Eduardo Serapio. Court Sheriff Ed Urieta said tight security will include 4,000 police and 2,000 soldiers, and military. Estrada is accused of stealing 4 billion pesos (US$81 million; €62 million) in illegal funds and falsely declaring his asse. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/07/asia/AS-GEN-Philippines-Estrada.php IHT, Philippine court to rule on ex-president's plunder trial Sept. 12] ]

The Decision

The Joseph Estrada Verdict: on September 12, 2007, Joseph Estrada was acquitted of perjury but found guilty of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from public office and forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth.

On September 12, 2007, Sandiganbayan's Presiding Justice Teresita De Castro and 2 other magistrates unanimously acquitted his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and a lawyer Edward Serapio of plunder charges. The Fallo of the 262-page Decision declared the forfeiture in favor of the government: P542.701 million (bank accounts including interest), P189 million (Jose Velarde accounts including interest) and the Boracay mansion in New Manila, Quezon City. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/60116/Sandigan-forfeits-Eraps-Velarde-accounts-Boracay-mansion GMA NEWS.TV, Sandigan forfeits Erap's 'Velarde' accounts, Boracay mansion] ] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/world/asia/12filip.html?ref=world New York Times, Philippines Ex-President Convicted] ]

Only the fallo or dispositive part of 2 judgments were read (resulting to only 15 minutes judicial proceedings). [ [http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-29479120070912 Reuters, Philippines' Estrada deadpan when sentenced to life] ] During the reading of the judgment, witnesses said Joseph Estrada cried; his wife, Luisa Ejercito Estrada, Jackie Ejercito Lopez, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, (Estrada's son with Guia Gomez), other family members and mistresses (including, Laarni Enriquez) all wept during the promulgation by the clerk. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/60122/Erap-plunder-drama-The-wife-cried-and-mistress-too GMA NEWS. TV, Erap plunder drama: The wife cried, and mistress, too] ]

Estrada's lawyer Estelito Mendoza stated that Estrada will file a motion for reconsideration (before September 27) of the 262-page Judgment and then appeal the verdict to the High Tribunal. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it will support a presidential pardon for Estrada. Jinggoy Estrada said "The people will receive this with moral outrage and disgust. The time of reckoning will come. That time may not be too far now." ``This verdict is intended to legitimize the occupancy of an illegal tenant in Malacanang" [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=asGMIlNrNYB0&refer=home Bloomberg, Philippines' Estrada Guilty of `Plunder,' Faces Life] ] [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=88134 Inquirer.net, Estrada to file motion for reconsideration--lawyers] ]

Estrada, in Filipino Barong Tagalog (pineapple fibre dress shirt and cream trousers) with his trademark wristband stated that "I thought the role of justice would prevail here but really it's a kangaroo court"." President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stated that the court's decision must be accepted: "We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail"." Estrada's counsel Rene A.V. Saguisag issued the statement:"VICTORS' JUSTICE" - "It's victors' justice. It's ruling class justice. The special division (of the court) was programmed to convict. We never had a chance"." Estrada will appeal the verdict and would be under automatic review at the Supreme Court of the Philippines. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSMNT00044820070912 Reuters, Philippines' Estrada gets life] ]

Estrada told Agence France-Presse that he was resigned for the latest drama in his presidency: "last and best performance of my life"." The prosecution's lead counsel Dennis Villa-Ignacio proudly asserted: "It shows that our judicial system really works.This is the last chance for the state to show that we can do it, that we can charge, prosecute and convict a public official regardless of his stature"." [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/11/philippines.estrada.ap/index.html CNN.com, Deposed Philippine president given life sentence for plunder] ]

Joseph Estrada rose from obscurirty to having been top Filipino film star, then hit the mark, by claiming the Presidency until destiny sent him to jail. He stated to AFP "I feel depressed, but it's my style not to show it"." Before the release of the fatalistic judgment, he warned that he prevent his fans from making street protests. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hJBcBYTMdVCy3vA-o-Z-sJPqjDDg AFP.google.com, Estrada: from movie star to Philippine president -- to jailbird] ]

Estrada returned to his villa in Tanay, Rizal (driven on from a golf cart), to the helicopter) [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=88137 Inquirer.net, Estrada back in Tanay resthouse] ] The court permitted him to return to his villa, "until further orders". [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091102206.html Washington Post, Philippines' Estrada gets life] ]

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy stated that the arrival of the USS Chung-Hoon and USS Milius, Missile destroyers was a "goodwill visit" to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and the Philippines. [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=88144 Inquirer.net, US warships arrive in RP] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/jestrada_bio.htm Senate of the Philippines - Biography of Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada]
* [http://jinggoyestrada.blogspot.com/ Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada's Blogspot]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/59888/A-one-stop-multimedia-microsite-The-Estrada-plunder-trial-verdict GMA NEWS.TV, A one-stop, multimedia microsite: The Estrada plunder trial verdict]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/erapplundertrial GMA NEWS.TV, Estrada Plunder Trial]
* [http://www5.gmanews.tv/docs/mem_plunder.doc TOC Plaintiff's Memorandum]
* [http://www5.gmanews.tv/docs/mem_plunder_070611.doc Plaintiff's Memorandum]
* [http://www5.gmanews.tv/docs/notes_on_plunder_closing_statements.doc NOTES ON PLUNDER CLOSING STATMENTS]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/11588/Court-Session-on-Joseph-Estrada's-verdict GMA Video, Court Session on Joseph Estrada's verdict]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/11589/Sandigan-finds-Erap-guilty-of-plunder GMA Video, Sandigan finds Erap guilty of plunder]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/11593/Interview-with-Estrada-after-conviction GMA Video, Interview with Estrada after conviction]
* [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/11599/Estradas-overcome-with-sadness-after-verdict GMA Video, Estradas overcome with sadness, after verdict]