MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday that Sen. Jinggoy Estrada may either surrender or face arrest following the filing of plunder and graft charges against him before the Sandiganbayan.
Remulla told reporters at Camp Karingal that he spoke with Estrada on Thursday regarding the senator’s options amid an expected arrest warrant.
“We spoke yesterday. I called him. I told him either surrender or arrest,” Remulla said. “He told me he’ll think about it. His concern is about his knee which needs replacement.”
The Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder and graft cases against Estrada on Thursday before the Sandiganbayan.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez accused Estrada of facilitating P355 million in insertions in the 2023 national budget in exchange for a 30-percent commission.
Estrada denied the allegations involving the alleged budget insertions.
