Malacañang on Monday challenged Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to present evidence to support his claim that he was offered the dismissal of charges in exchange for joining the Senate minority bloc.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Estrada should first substantiate his allegation before Malacañang responds further.
“Bago n’yo kami tanungin, mas maganda na siya muna ang tanungin ninyo tungkol sa kanyang mga ebidensya patungkol diyan,” Castro said when asked to comment on Estrada’s claim.
Before surrendering to authorities, Estrada alleged that he had been pressured to leave the majority bloc and join the minority in exchange for the supposed dropping of charges against him.
Castro, meanwhile, said Estrada did the right thing by voluntarily surrendering after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest.
She said Estrada’s surrender made the process easier for authorities, unlike the case of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who, according to Castro, slipped out of the Senate after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Estrada surrendered in connection with the non-bailable plunder and graft cases filed against him over alleged irregularities involving flood-control projects.