Jinggoy Estrada surrenders to dad Joseph Estrada
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on Monday morning surrendered to his father, former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
Senator Estrada’s lawyer Jose Flaminiano said he surrendered to the mayor who he is a person of authority.
“What took place is that Senator Jinggoy surrendered voluntarily to the Mayor of Manila,” Flaminiano said in a televised interview.
“We will not wait for the warrant of arrest to be served,” he said.
Estrada then turned himself in before the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame on Monday afternoon, shortly after his trip to San Juan.
With his family and parents Mayor Estrada and Loi Ejercito, Senator Estrada arrived at Camp Crame in a white coaster to undergo booking procedures.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP Public Information Office chief, said hours before Estrada surrendered that his booking will be held at the PNP Multipurpose Hall same as that of Senator Ramon”Bong” Revilla Jr.
Justice Roland Jurado of the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division signed the warrant of arrest for Estrada in the plunder and graft charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Joining Senator Estrada are 25 others accused of the same charges, including Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and the Senator’s former deputy chief of staff Pauline Labayen.
Senator Estrada faces one count of plunder, a non-bailable offense, and 11 counts of graft.
But the senator vowed to file a motion for bail immediately after his arrest and a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court questioning the finding of the Sandiganbayan for probable cause.
Unlike Estrada, co-accused Revilla submitted himself first to the Sandiganbayan in a convoy of 10 vehicles carrying his family and supporters on Friday morning.
The senator-actor is now detained at a detention facility PNP Custodial Center, which he would share with Senator Estrada.
Inside the one-hectare compound is a four-door bungalow. All rooms are measured 32 square meters with a single bed, kitchen sink, comfort room, side table and ceiling fan.
One of the four detention cells have already been occupied by Revilla.
The day before his arrest, Senator Estrada and his wife, Precy, celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.
Estrada said in previous reports that he would request that he be allowed to bring in a Cable TV inside his cell while he fulfills his duty as a Senator if the Sandiganbayan would not order his suspension.
”We have a right to know what’s happening outside,” he said, also citing his fondness for “teleseryes.”
Last June 16, a hold-departure order was signed by the same division of the anti-graft court barring Estrada and co-accused from leaving the country.
This would be the second time he would be put to jail also for plunder in 2001 until 2003 with the older Estrada. He was acquitted eventually and was released.
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