The Senate session heated up on Tuesday, September 23, after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada confronted Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan over a comment made during the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Earlier in the hearing, Pangilinan remarked: “Siguro kung ‘yong Napoles cases, nauwi sa halip na absuwelto ay kulong, baka hindi na nangyari itong mas malaking kurakot.”
Estrada took offense, saying the statement, though not naming anyone, carried insinuations clearly directed at him and former senator Bong Revilla. Both were accused in the pork barrel scam but later acquitted.
“I cannot, in good conscience, let the remarks made earlier by our colleague, Sen. Francis Pangilinan during [the Senate] Blue Ribbon Committee pass without rebuttal,” Estrada said in plenary.
“His comments, while not naming us directly, were laced with insinuations, clearly aimed at me and former senator Bong Revilla, in the legal ordeals I have already faced,” he added.
Estrada insisted he had faced the charges against him, undergone trial, endured detention, and suffered public stigma — only to be acquitted.
“Let me put on record. Hinarap ko po ang mga kasong isinampa sa akin. Dumaan ako sa mahabang panahon ng paglilitis, pagkakakulong, at pati na ang mabigat na stigma na idinulot nito. Sa huli, napatunayan na walang sapat na mga batayan ang ipinukol sa akin na mga akusasyon,” he said.
Estrada then directly addressed Pangilinan: “Sino ba ang pinatatamaan mo? It’s very obvious. Remember, Senator Pangilinan, that I was acquitted by the Court. Are you questioning the decision of the court? You’re a lawyer, I am not. You shouldn’t be talking that way.”
For his part, Pangilinan clarified that his comments were not intended as a personal attack.
“For the record, there was no intention on maligning any individual in the manifestation we said earlier during the Committee hearing in the Blue Ribbon Committee. Wala pong personalan. Humihingi tayo ng unawa,” Pangilinan said, explaining that his point was about conviction rates and public perception of accountability.
The tension prompted Senate President Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to temporarily suspend the session. Estrada and Pangilinan were later seen shaking hands, though it was unclear if the issue was fully resolved.
