MANILA - Former senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said he is confident the plunder and graft cases he is facing in connection with the pork barrel scam will not block his political plans in next year’s senatorial elections.

Estrada has been detained since 2014 for allegedly pocketing P183.793 million after diverting his Priority Development Assistance Fund to "non-existent" and "unaccredited" NGOs.

• TIMELINE: Jinggoy Estrada's pork barrel scam case

He pointed out that he won a Senate seat in 2004 despite a separate plunder case against him and his father, former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

"If you remember when I first ran in 2004 I still have an outstanding case, pending case pala, together with my father may plunder case ako ng 2004 and eventually I was acquitted,” Estrada told reporters at his PDAF trial at the Sandiganbayan 5th Division.

He clarified however that he has yet to decide on running again for the Senate.

"Panay rumors, panay tsismis. Sabi ko nga I haven't decided yet eh, pero siyempre andoon pa rin yung inclination natin to serve our people on a national level," he said.

Estrada said has not spoken with his brother, Senator JV Ejercito, who had said that he will not be seek another term if Estrada joins the 2019 senatorial race.

• There can only be one: JV vs Jinggoy looming in 2019 polls?