Jinggoy, wife renew wedding vows ahead of arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Jinggoy Estrada exuded happiness like a new groom while his wife, Precy, looked like a blushing bride as the couple renewed their wedding vows late Sunday afternoon at their parents' house at #1 Polk Street, Greenhills, San Juan.

"I am so happy, it was a surprise sprung by our children," Estrada told the Star in an interview. "Naiyak nga ako eh," added the senator, now embroiled in the pork barrel controversy and facing imminent arrest.

"There was no grand celebration. It's just simple, it's private. My wife just wore a veil over her casual clothes," he added.

For a while, Estrada said he forgot his own predicament, wearing only a casual shirt and panya as he wed anew his wife of 25 years in simple a ceremony celebrated by Fr. Fajardo at 5 p.m.

Precy, who was wearing a veil during the simple ceremony, was emotional. There was no extravagant celebration for the silver anniversary, guests said.

Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and his wife, Dra. Loi Ejercito, stood as wedding sponsors in the impromptu ceremony.

In an interview during a stake out at their Quezon City residence on Friday, Precy said: "My husband is my security blanket."

She lamented that they might not be able to celebrate their 25 years of marriage since they expect the senator to be detained before they mark anew their altar date on June 28.

The couple had put on hold any celebration for their wedding anniversary because of the plunder charges. The couple has four children, two boys and two girls with the youngest aged 9.

Estrada earlier said that he will likely marry Precy anew in jail. Last night, the senator sounded excited as he shared some details of the solemn ceremony to close friends.

The senator may be brought to jail anytime today as the Sandiganbayan has issued a resolution, ordering the drafting of an arrest warrant against him before 11 a.m. He has assured that he will surrender to the Sandiganbayan after the issuance of the arrest order.

He is charged with plunder over the pork barrel fund scam. His fellow senator and close friend, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., has been detained at the Philippine National Police's Custodial Center in Camp Crame for the same charge.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile is also facing plunder charges before the anti-graft court's Third Division.