Jinggoy Estrada

Jose Pimentel Ejercito Jr. (born February 17, 1963), better known as Jinggoy Estrada or Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, is a Filipino politician and film actor serving as a senator since 2022 and previously from 2004 to 2016. He is the current president pro tempore of the Senate, having been elected for the second time in 2024 and previously holding the position from 2007 to 2013. He briefly became the acting Senate President in 2013 after Juan Ponce Enrile's resignation. Before serving in the Senate, he was the vice mayor (1988–1992) and later mayor (1992–2001) of San Juan when it was still a municipality.

Estrada has been detained twice for corruption charges. In 2001, he and his father, ousted president Joseph Estrada, were arrested after being charged with plunder. He was released in 2003, elected to the Senate in 2004, and was acquitted in 2007. In 2014, he was charged and detained for allegedly embezzling ₱183 million from his discretionary funds in a scandal known as the pork barrel scam. In 2016, he was released after being allowed to post bail. He sought reelection in the 2019 Senate election but lost. He ran again in 2022 and won a Senate seat. In 2024, Estrada was convicted on one count of committing direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery, but acquitted on charges of plunder over the use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund. He was sentenced to 8 to 9 years for direct bribery, 2 to 3 years for indirect bribery and ordered to pay a fine of ₱3 million.

Outside politics, Estrada is also an actor like his father appearing in numerous films in action star roles. He won the Best Actor Award in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival for the film Katas ng Saudi.

Early life and education
Estrada was born on February 17, 1963, in Manila. He finished his primary and secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila University and earned a degree in A.B. Economics from the University of the Philippines Manila. He took up Bachelor of Laws for four years at the Lyceum of the Philippines University while serving as Vice Mayor of the then Municipality of San Juan at the age of 25. He was also bestowed an honorary Doctorate in Humanities in 2007 by the Laguna State Polytechnic University.

Mayor of San Juan (1992–2001)
In 1992, he became the youngest ever elected-local chief executive during the 1992 Philippine local elections at age 29. During his three consecutive terms as mayor, he spearheaded the construction of modernized barangay halls with daycare centers and various recreational areas such as gymnasiums, basketball courts and playgrounds. The renovation and repair of the San Juan National High School and other public elementary schools also took place, as well as the improvement and replacement of drainages, concreting of municipal roads, and the construction of the four-storey San Juan Medical Center and the San Juan Municipal Gymnasium. During his incumbency, San Juan gained the reputation of being one of the most progressive municipalities and the "most peaceful municipality in the Philippines".

During his final tenure as mayor, he was sworn into office as the national president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) from 1998 to 2001.

Senator of the Philippines (2004–2016)
In 2004, he was elected as a senator. During his first term, he introduced at least 617 bills and resolutions and steered the passage of at least 16 bills either as a principal sponsor or principal author. Jinggoy is hailed as the second most productive and prolific senator, next to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who filed the most bills and resolutions in the Senate.

On July 23, 2007, Estrada was elected as Senate president pro tempore.

On August 15, 2007, the Supreme Court voted 13–0 to uphold the Sandiganbayan's decision to grant his bail in connection with his plunder case before the graft court. His father, former president Joseph Estrada, was the main accused in that plunder case and was subsequently convicted but was immediately pardoned by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Jinggoy, on the other hand, was acquitted in the plunder charge. On September 11, 2007, he introduced Senate Bill No. 1556, proposing to make ROTC mandatory for all college students.

In 2010, he was re-elected as a senator, finishing in 2nd place. During the opening of the 15th Congress on July 26, 2010, he was re-elected as Senate president pro tempore.

During his stint in the Senate, he had been consistently hailed as one of the very few senators who scored perfect attendance, with no absence or late arrival during the chamber's plenary sessions.

Batas Kasambahay
Estrada is the principal author of the Kasambahay Law, or the law promoting the interests and welfare of the domestic workers in the Philippines. Republic Act No. 10361, or simply the "Kasambahay Law", prescribed standards, privileges, and rights of the domestic workers.

2019 Senate campaign
Estrada ran for a comeback to the Senate in the 2019 Philippine Senate election. His half-brother, JV Ejercito, also sought a Senate reelection. During the campaign, the half-siblings had a disagreement in the idea of them running at the same time. He was named to the Hugpong ng Pagbabago senatorial slate. However, he lost, placing 15th in the final tally, while Ejercito ended up in the 13th place, just a spot outside the winning circle. After conceding defeat, he wished that Senator Nancy Binay would make it over Ejercito, with both senators vying for the last spot in the partial and unofficial count. JV Ejercito responded by telling Estrada that he placed 13th in his own hometown San Juan, telling him “It’s painful to accept that even in your own bailiwick you are unwanted".

Senator of the Philippines (2022–present)
Estrada sought for a comeback to the Senate once again in the 2022 Philippine Senate election. He was named to the senatorial slate of UniTeam Alliance and openly endorsed the eventually successful candidacies of Bongbong Marcos for president and Sara Duterte for vice president. For the second straight time, his half-brother, JV Ejercito, also ran for senator on the same election. He won as the 12th placer, finally earning his third nonconsecutive term, while Ejercito was also successful as he placed 10th. Estrada chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.

In October 2022, Estrada said he was thinking of a proposal to ban all Korean dramas in the Philippines, saying that "if we continue showing Korean telenovelas, our citizens praise the Koreans while Filipino artists continue losing jobs and money." Estrada clarified that he was only frustrated "that while we are only too eager and willing to celebrate South Korea's entertainment industry, we have sadly allowed our own to deteriorate because of the lack of support from the movie going public."

On January 18, 2024, Estrada was found guilty of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery, as well as acquitted of plunder in relation to the utilization of the Priority Development Assistance Fund. He was sentenced to eight to nine years in prison for direct bribery and two to three years for indirect bribery. He was also ordered to pay a fine of ₱3 million. In addition to the criminal and civil penalties, the conviction also carries with it accessory penalties of suspension from holding public office and deprivation of right to suffrage. His legal team has said that they intend to appeal the conviction.

Return as President Pro Tempore of the Senate (2024)
Estrada was elected through a closed-ballot by the members of the Senate, which elected him to the position of President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines, a position he previously held from 2007 to 2013. Estrada was sworn-in by newly-elected President of the Senate of the Philippines Francis Escudero. On May 20, 2024, Estrada succeeded Senator Loren Legarda, who tendered her resignation.

Involvement in the pork barrel scam


Estrada was accused of another plunder charge at the Ombudsman relating to Janet Lim-Napoles' pork barrel scam involving ₱10 billion in public funds. Two other senators—Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla—as well as more than two dozens individuals are charged with him. Estrada is accused of pocketing PHP183 million in kickbacks from fake projects.

A report by the Commission on Audit was released on August 16, 2013, showing alleged misuse of funds by lawmakers who allegedly endorsed part of their congressional allocations to bogus non-governmental organizations. The accusations were the subject of a Senate probe that began later that month.

The Department of Justice filed its case against Estrada, Enrile and Revilla before the Ombudsman on September 16, 2013.

On June 23, 2014, Estrada was arrested and detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. The Senate on September 2, 2014, suspended Estrada from his position for 90 days.

On September 16, 2017, the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court released its resolution granting bail to Estrada.

On February 22, 2019, Estrada filed a request for a demurrer before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, asking the court to deviate from established procedure and to allow him to challenge the sufficiency of evidence midway into the trial. In March 2019, the court granted Estrada and his co-accused 10 days to file their respective demurrers; prosecution was also granted 10 days to respond.

COVID-19 violations
On May 3, 2020, Estrada was arrested over alleged violations of the COVID-19 community quarantine rules in San Juan. He said that he had been distributing relief goods to residents of the city when policemen in two patrol cars arrived at the scene and invited him to the local precinct.

Hong Kong Airport incident
In August 2010, Estrada claimed that while traveling to Hong Kong, he experienced a backlash of the emotions surrounding the death of eight nationals from Hong Kong during the 2010 Manila hostage crisis. According to him, as he passed through the immigration desk in Hong Kong, officers threw back his passport at him after checking it.

Estrada said the officer may not have known who he was because he used a "regular passport" for personal travel. He also said that he "understood the pain being felt by many Hong Kong nationals".

According to Apple Daily, the Hong Kong immigration department recorded that Estrada visited Hong Kong with a diplomat passport and that from an alleged video surveillance record, he and three other Filipinos were accompanied by staff from the Philippine embassy and had arranged to go through the privileged passage for diplomats. The immigration officer handed back the passport to the Philippines embassy staff, not to Estrada.

As actor

 * Markang Rehas: Ikalawang Aklat (1985)
 * Paradise Inn (1985)
 * Bagets Gang (1986)
 * Isa Lang Ang Dapat Mabuhay (1986)
 * Sa Kuko Ng Agila (1989)
 * Eagle Squad (1989)
 * Estribo Gang: The Jinggoy Sese Story (1992) - Vice-Mayor
 * The Marita Gonzaga Rape-Slay: In God We Trust (1995)
 * The Four Stooges (1995) - Adrian
 * Wilson Sorronda: Leader Kuratong Baleleng's Solid Group (1995) - Wilson Sorronda
 * Strebel: Gestapo ng Maynila (1998) - Strebel
 * Ang Erpat Kong Astig (1998) - Joe
 * Hiwaga ng Panday (1998) - Guiller/Panday
 * Col. Elmer Jamias: Barako ng Maynila (2000) - as Col. Elmer Jamias
 * Sagot Kita Mula Ulo Hanggang Paa (2000) - Ador
 * Walang Iwanan, Peksman (2002)
 * Utang ng Ama (2003) - Don
 * Katas ng Saudi (2007) - Oca
 * Magkaibigan (2008) - Ruben
 * Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme (2009) - audience member during Kimmy Dora's speech
 * Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round (2009) - young Dindo
 * Ang Tatay kong Sexy (2016) - Paquito
 * Coming Home (2020) - Pre Production & Official Entry For 1st Metro Manila Summer Film Festival 2020

As executive producer

 * Pepeng Agimat (1999)
 * Palaban (2000)
 * Col. Elmer Jamias: Barako ng Maynila (2000)
 * Eto na Naman Ako (2000)
 * Minsan Ko Lang Sasabihin (2000)

Television

 * Lorenzo's Time (2012) - as himself

Awards

 * Award of Excellence, Asusasyon ng mga Kumentarista at Anaunser ng Pilipinas, 1998
 * Annual Young Achievers Award for Government and Public Sector, 1999
 * Most Outstanding Government Service Award, Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc., 2011
 * Lifetime Achievement Award, Gawad Amerika, 2012
 * Men Who Matter, People Asia, 2012
 * Distinguished Alumnus in Good Governance Award, University of the Philippines Alumni Association, 2013