Jinggoy and wife renew wedding vows shortly before issuance of warrant of arrest

Jinggoy and Precy Estrada, overcome with emotion, at their surprise 25th wedding anniversary celebration. (Screengrab from video)

MANILA – Shorty before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued an arrest warrant on Monday for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the embattled lawmaker and his wife, Precy, were feted by their children to a surprise silver wedding anniversary party on Sunday.

In a short speech at the party, daughter Jahella “Jel” Estrada honored her parents and expounded on the reasons for the celebration.

“It’s been 25 years for the both of you, dada and ma. At alam kong matagal niyo ng plinaplano na magpapakasal kayo ulit.. But problems and challenges are with us right now.. So we (Jolo, Julian, Jill, your bestfriend Ninang Joan and my bestfriends) came up with this surprise wedding. We also want to thank Tita Jacq and Mommyla for helping us out.. And to all who came and for not spoiling the surprise. Npakasarap sa pakiramdam na makita kayong masaya.. Mahal na mahal ko kayong dalawa, dad and mom…”

Visibly moved, Estrada and his wife openly shed tears even before they renewed their wedding vows, as seen in a video posted on Instagram,

Estrada, who said he would will surrender to the Sandiganbayan as soon as a warrant for his arrest is issued, is one of three lawmakers accused of plunder and graft charges before the anti-graft court for his purported involvement in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.