BUSTOS, Bulacan – Re-electionist Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada has forgiven TV host Kris Aquino, who previously apologized for an earlier statement of her brother, Liberal Party's (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Senator Estrada said he has ironed out the misunderstanding with his "kumare" after talking with her. Kris explained that her brother was misquoted when he expressed opposition to the presidential pardon granted to former President Joseph Estrada, on Tuesday.

"I talked to Kris, the sister of Noynoy and she apologized to me personally but she did not apologize on behalf of Senator Aquino," the younger Estrada said on the sidelines of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)'s campaign sortie in Bulacan.

"We talked over the phone and she was asking for us to understand that Senator Noynoy was just misquoted. I understood her because the Estrada family and the Aquino family have a long history of friendship. President Erap became close with President Cory when she got sick," he said.

The younger Estrada explained that the issue did not put a dent on the ties between the Aquino and Estrada families, promising that they would never let political matters in the run-up to the May 10 elections ruin their friendship.

In a text message sent to the younger Estrada, TV host Aquino also expressed sadness over the misunderstanding, saying that "it is unfortunate that a question connected to the pardon given to the soldiers who killed our dad and with no follow-up to express sentiments behind Noy's answer is now being used to create a rift between our families.”

“Politics will always be a breeding ground for people to become enemies but on behalf of the Aquino family, we'd like to think that the friendship we now have with the Estrada family will survive May 10 and continue to grow stronger,” Kris added.

Former President Estrada said that he will remain friends with the Aquinos, saying he has nothing against them because he treasured the friendship he had with the late former President Corazon Aquino.

However, Erap clarified he never asked for his pardon from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who granted him executive clemency in 2007.