MANILA, Philippines – Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday ridiculed Sen. Teofisto Guingona’s ranking in the latest Pulse Asia survey on senatorial preferences for the 2016 elections.
In a statement, Estrada said Guingona’s “dismal ranking outside of the Senate top 12 is indicative of the public’s disgust over his mishandling of the pork barrel controversy.”
Guingona, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, ranked 16th to 24th in the survey released on Monday.
Estrada slammed the senator for allowing the Senate to be used for political purposes instead of conducting inquiries in aid of legislation.
He called for Guingona’s resignation as chairman of the Senate panel for failure to do his job with impartiality.
“The partiality and neglect of the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon panel over significant issues before it necessitate a change in the committee leadership. I believe that under Senator Guingona, no productive, meaningful output can be expected; only mud-slinging and selective justice,” Estrada said.
“Under his chairmanship, the Blue Ribbon committee has turned into a tool to persecute personalities and besmirch reputation of people, especially members of the opposition.”
Estrada is detained at Camp Crame on plunder charges in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.
“The committee has become a mere instrument to crush the opposition (as what is being done now to Vice President Binay) while protecting its allies. No wonder Senator Guingona is the highest pointer and most valuable player with respect to DAP funds,” the senator said, referring to Guingona’s inclusion in the list of recipients of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, turning the tables on him using basketball analogy.
Guingona had described as a “three-point shot and slam dunk”previous testimony of a witness against Estrada.
Estrada meanwhile reiterated his call for the Senate to start its probe on the Malampaya Fund scam.