A Philippine senator announced Monday that he will surrender after a court ordered his arrest on a charge of plunder linked to a massive kickback scheme in a flood-control project.
Background of the Case
The special Sandiganbayan anti-graft court initially issued a warrant for Senator Jinggoy Estrada's arrest on Friday on a graft charge that was bailable. He subsequently surrendered and was released on bail, again denying any wrongdoing.
Estrada, 63, has strongly refuted allegations primarily made by a former government public works engineer, who claimed that Estrada received more than 570 million pesos ($9.3 million) in kickbacks from flood control projects.
Legal Proceedings
The plunder charge is non-bailable, leading Estrada to state his intention to surrender to authorities. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the Philippines, particularly involving high-profile political figures.
