MANILA: A Philippine anti-graft court ordered the arrest of a prominent senator on Friday over allegations he pocketed a kickback of millions of dollars in a flood-control project, in the latest crisis to entangle the Senate. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada surrendered and posted bail before the Sandiganbayan court, allowing him to remain free while the case proceeds. The court barred Estrada from leaving the country while facing the first of two corruption-related charges in relation to the flood control project anomalies.

He has been indicted for plunder and violating anti-corruption laws after earning ‘kickbacks’ of 573 million pesos (US$9.3 million).

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada faces a new ₱573-million plunder case in a widening Philippine flood control kickback scandal involving DPWH officials and senators.