Jinggoy Estrada surrenders on graft and plunder charges

Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered to authorities on Monday after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of plunder and graft. The charges relate to alleged kickbacks from flood control projects during his tenure. Estrada voluntarily presented himself to the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and was subsequently committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

In a press conference before his surrender, Estrada stated he would not seek protective custody from the Senate and would not accept his salary while defending himself in court. He vowed to face the charges directly, saying he would not be intimidated or pressured into surrendering his independence of judgment. Estrada was accompanied by several members of the Senate majority bloc, including Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Imee Marcos and Rodante Marcoleta.

Estrada claimed he had received multiple offers to abandon the Senate majority bloc in exchange for the dismissal of his cases, but he refused to identify who made the offers. He asserted his determination to remain with the majority under Cayetano's leadership, stating that the independence of the Senate...