Philippine senator charged with plunder says he will surrender

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine senator said Monday that he will surrender after a court ordered his arrest on a charge of plunder linked to a huge kickback in a flood-control project.

The special Sandiganbayan anti-graft court had initially issued a warrant for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s arrest Friday on a graft charge that was bailable. He then surrendered and was released on bail and and again denied any wrongdoing.

Estrada, 63, has strongly denied allegations mainly by a former government public works engineer that he received more than 570 million pesos ($9.3 million) in kickbacks from flood control projects.

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