Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada dismissed on Friday, November 14 allegations linking him anew to the anomalies surrounding on the government’s control projects as nothing but “classic diversionary tactics.”

Senator Jinggoy Estrada (Mark Balmores/MB)

Earlier, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified about the involvement of the senator on the flood control mess during his tenure in the agency, claiming his close ties with Estrada and former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. at the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation on the controversy. 

Bernardo’s testimony corroborated to the sworn statements of other witnesses in the flood control probe, namely Brian Hernandez, also a former DPWH assistant district engineer.

“Ngayong araw, muli na namang nasaksihan kung gaano kadaling magpalaganap ng kasinungalingan para sa pansariling interes ng iilan (Today, we witnessed once again how easy it is to spread lies for the personal interests of a few),” Estrada said in a statement.

“Then and now, it has always been easy for them to drag my name through the mud. These are classic diversionary tactics, and the Filipino people can no longer be deceived,” he said.

“I vehemently deny the allegations linking me to any flood control project. The claim that I supposedly received a ‘percentage’ from these projects is baseless, reckless, and unsupported by any credible evidence whatsoever,” he stressed.

Estrada also pointed out Bernardo’s lies noting that his two sworn statements contradict each other.

“Sa una niyang affidavit, malinaw na hindi niya binanggit ang anumang direktang pag-uugnay sa akin. Ngunit sa pangalawang affidavit, bigla at misteryosong lumitaw ang mga bagong paratang—mga detalyeng hindi niya nabanggit noon, kahit mayroon naman siyang sapat na pagkakataon (In his first affidavit, it is clear that he did not mention any direct connection to me. But in the second affidavit, new allegations suddenly and mysteriously surfaced—details that he had not mentioned before, even though he had ample opportunity),” he pointed out.

“These glaring inconsistencies, omissions, and later embellishments cast serious doubt on the truthfulness, reliability, and motives behind his statements. Affidavits that materially contradict each other cannot be the basis of any honest accusation. They collapse under the weight of their own inconsistency,” he said.

Estrada insists he has nothing to do with any anomalous flood control project or making insertions in the national budget.

“I have always acted with integrity as a legislator, and I remain committed to transparency and accountability in all my public duties. I will pursue every available legal remedy against those who persist in spreading false, defamatory, and malicious statements,” he said.

“Ang katotohanan ay iisa lamang—hindi ito nababahiran, hindi ito nababaluktot. At sa bandang huli, ang katotohanan at pawang katotohanan lamang ang mananaig (One thing is true—it is untainted, it can’t be bent. And in the end, the truth and the whole truth will prevail),” Estrada reiterated.