Senator Jinggoy Estrada did not yield to threats and pressure.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered and claimed that he turned down proposals to abandon the Senate’s “independent” majority bloc.
Hours after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued the warrant for the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada, he appeared and surrendered, vowing to face the charges against him “head-on.”
Previously, the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday afternoon filed plunder and graft charges against Jinggoy, with Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano formally filing the cases against Estrada. This is a non-bailable plunder case linked to the alleged flood control fund scandal.
He was accompanied by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano when he left the Senate to voluntarily surrender himself to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame on Monday.
In a press conference, he revealed, “Ngayon ko lang ito isasapubliko ito: Maraming beses akong inalok na talikuran ang independent majority bloc kapalit ang pagbabasura sa aking kaso, ngunit hindi ko ito tinanggap. Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ako na manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc.”
He stands his ground for the independence of the Senate, adding, “I will not yield to threats, I will not be intimidated, I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgement.”
Estrada’s surrender came after he posted bail for graft.
As he surrendered, he also instructed the Senate Secretary “to put my salary on hold.” Estrada said his decision was a personal move aimed at showing the public that he has no intention of benefiting from government funds while addressing the allegations against him.
He stressed that he would face the charges through the proper legal process, maintaining that he would not be intimidated by accusations or political pressure as he works to clear his name.
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