Erap tells Jinggoy to learn more from mentor Enrile

Pardoned former President Joseph Estrada advised his son, Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, to learn more from Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who was his mentor when he was a senator in the ’80s.

Estrada, who graced the Christmas party thrown by his son for Senate reporters at the Acacia Room beside the Zirkoh Club in Greenhils, San Juan, said that the guidance given to him by Enrile led him to the presidency.

Jinggoy was earlier mentioned by Estrada as among the six opposition members being considered by the United Opposition (UNO) to be its standard bearer in the 2010 presidential elections.

Aside from Jinggoy, the other opposition senators being considered by UNO are Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manuel Roxas II, Manuel Villar and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay.

“You know what, I have not seen my mentor, none other than Senator Enrile, since I was incarcerated for six years and six months. He is one of the most brilliant senators that the Philippines has ever produced,” Estrada said.

“I am a witness to Enrile’s brilliance because we were seated side by side in 1987. We were the only opposition senators then. The trouble with Senator Enrile is that he reads a lot. When I would talk to him, he would not mind me because he would just read and read a lot,” Estrada said.

He said he always sought Enrile’s advice whenever he had to stand up and say his piece in the Senate.

“I made it a point to ask Manong Enrile if all that I intended to ask was okay. When he said ‘It’s okay,’ I felt more confident to stand up. That is why I told Jinggoy, ‘You should be with Senator Enrile because you will learn a lot from him.’ He was my mentor when I was still a senator, I learned a lot and that is why I became president,” Estrada said.  – Jose Rodel Clapano