A Philippine senator and son of a former president was detained on Monday after surrendering to police, following a court order on suspicion of taking kickbacks in a scandal that sparked massive protests last year. The anti-graft court ordered the arrest of Senator Jose 'Jinggoy' Estrada for plunder, a non-bailable offense. The Office of the Ombudsman last week charged Estrada with violating anti-corruption laws for allegedly receiving illicit payouts worth 573 million pesos ($9.3 million).
Background of the Scandal
Last autumn, anti-corruption protests drew hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of Manila. Estrada was taken to a jail facility in Quezon City, within Metro Manila, where he will be held until the end of his trial. His co-accused, including former public works minister Manuel Bonoan, were also arrested.
Estrada told reporters at the Senate that he would not seek refuge from arrest in the upper house. 'I am ready to defend myself before the court and I will not hide behind the institution to evade the process,' he said. He posted bail last week for a separate offense.
Impact on the Nation
The corruption scandal, centered on dangerously flawed flood-control facilities across the Philippines, has shaken the graft-weary nation and slowed economic growth in recent quarters. Estrada has been jailed twice before on corruption offenses, while his father, Joseph Estrada, was the first former president convicted of plunder. His successor, Gloria Arroyo, pardoned the former president and ordered his release, paving the way for his return to politics.
