MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada is putting up his family residence on Polk Street, Greenhills in San Juan for sale to pay off huge debts, his eldest son, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada disclosed yesterday.
“Well, I cannot blame him (former president Estrada). First of all, he was in jail for six and a half years, and he’s lost in the recent presidential elections. Of course, he has many debts to pay so maybe that is why he decided to sell our property at Polk Street,” the younger Estrada said.
Jinggoy said the 3,000-hectare estate has also become too large to stay in for his parents.
“It’s only the two of them staying in the house, my mommy and daddy. They must find it too large so they decided to put it up for sale,” Jinggoy said.
He said the Polk Street residence is a conjugal property of his parents. His mother, former Sen. Loi Estrada, was at first against the sale of the property but was eventually persuaded into agreeing.
Jinggoy said he has fond memories of the family residence but must respect his father’s decision.
“If you ask me, we’ve grown very fond of that house, especially my mother and my siblings. But he has the final decision,” he said.
But what if his father suddenly finds himself homeless?
“We still have additional room (in our house),” he joked.