Dumepensa si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada kaugnay naging usap-usapan sa publiko tungkol sa tila pagrereto niya sa Gilas Pilipinas Women prospect Elizabeth Jeanette Means sa kapuwa niyang senador na si Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
Matatandaan kasing sa naging pagdinig nila sa Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights noong Martes, Marso 3, 2026, tila humirit si Estrada kay Elizabeth hinggil sa lovelife ng atleta at sabay rekomenda kay Pangilinan.
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Ayon naman sa inilabas na pahayag ni Estrada noong Biyernes, Marso 6, 2026, sinabi niyang simpleng biruan lamang daw iyon ni Pangilinan at ibinahagi niyang personal na kaibigan niya ang misis kapuwa niya senador na si Megastar Sharon Cuneta, bago pa man daw siya pumasok sa politika noon.
“It was simply a friendly banter between Senator Francis Pangilinan and myself. It may not be widely known, but Senator Pangilinan's wife, Ms. Sharon Cuneta is a dear friend of mine, and our friendship goes back many years - long before I entered politics,” pagsisimula niya.
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Ani Estrada, may konteksto naman daw ang dahilan ng pagtatanong niya sa atleta upang madetermina raw niya ang apela sa naturalisasyon nito bilang Pilipino sa bansa.
“As for the question directed at Ms. Elizabeth Jeanette Means, it was asked within the context of determining her reasons for seeking naturalization as a Filipino,” aniya.
Dagdag pa niya, “Part of the Committee's responsibility is to understand whether applicants intend to truly make the Philippines their home - whether by settling here permanently or even establishing a family in the future.”
Paliwanag ni Estrada, may kaso na rin daw noon halimbawa ng isa pang atletang si Maodo “Malick” Diouf na nagbahagi rin na “feel at home” na raw ito sa bansa at mayroon na ng relasyon sa isang Pinay.
“The question simply came to mind because another basketball player seeking naturalization, Mr. Maodo ‘Malick’ Diouf, who has been living in the Philippines since 2018, shared during the hearing of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights that he already feels at home in the country and, in fact, has been in a relationship with a Filipina for quite some time,” paglilinaw niya.
Giit ng senador, wala raw malisya ang kaniyang nasabi at tinanong niya raw iyon sa magaan na paraan.
“There was absolutely nothing malicious in the question,” ‘ika niya.
“It was asked in a light and conversational manner during the proceedings, especially since both Ms. Means and Mr. Diouf themselves expressed that they already feel at home in the Philippines,” pagtatapos pa ni Estrada.
Samantala, hindi pa naman naglalabas ng reaksyon si Sharon kaugnay sa nangyaring ito.
Mc Vincent Mirabuna/Balita
