Sen. Jinggoy Estrada Voluntarily Surrenders to PH
JINGGOY ESTRADA – The Senator who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities announced his decision to put his salary on hold and not seek Senate custody.
No majority senators arrived for the Senate session on Monday after they accompanied Senator Jinggoy Estrada in his voluntary surrender. The Senator is faced with graft and plunder charges over his supposed multi-million flood control corruption.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and majority senators Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, and Rodante Marcoleta were among those who were spotted showing their support for Sen. Estrada. The authorities came to the Senate for his arrest after the Sandiganbayan has released an arrest warrant.
Before his voluntary surrender, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada spoke before the press. Based on News5, the Senator stressed in his speech that he remains under the leadership of Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano.
It was just recently when Senate Pres. Alan Peter Cayetano was elected following the ouster of former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto. Estrada previously questioned the alleged fast proceedings of the charges against some majority senators following the change in the leadership in the chamber.
“Hindi ako matitinag sa anumang panggigipit, pananakot, political maneuvering para talikuran ang aking paninindigan… I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence,” Estrada said.
According to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, prior to his voluntary surrender, he has already given instructions to put his salary on hold. According to him, it is his personal decision to show to the people that he is not after the people’s money.
“I am giving instructions to the Senate Secretary to put on hold my salary. Personal kong pasya ito upang ipakita sa sambayanang Pilipino na wala akong intensyon makinabang sa pondo ng bayan habang nililinis ko ang aking pangalan,” the Senator said.
Furthermore, based on the post, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada also claimed that he will not seek the protection that the Senate can afford as an institution to the sitting senators. According to him, he is ready to defend himself in court and will not use the chamber as a shield against the allegations towards him.
“Hindi ako papasailalim sa kustodiya ng Senado. I will not seek Senate custody. Hindi ko gagamitin ang Senado bilang panangga laban sa mga alegasyon sa akin. Nakahanda akong ipagtanggol ang aking sarili sa hukuman at hindi ako magtatago,” Estrada expressed.
In his speech, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada claimed that the minority bloc allegedly offered him to join them in exchange of the dismissal of the case against him.