Manila: A Philippine senator and a former movie action hero has been jailed over charges of siphoning off huge amounts of public funds by using non-existent NGOs as fronts.
Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, a former action hero who parlayed his fame into a political career, surrendered following an emotional saga played out for weeks on national television.
"I will go to jail with my head held high, and I will come out with my head held high," Revilla, 47, told reporters shortly after attending a televised mass with his family.
He later arrived at the anti-graft court that ordered his arrest and was seen beaming to a crowd of journalists and supporters before entering the building to meet with the court sheriff.
Revilla is the first politician linked to the massive funds scam to turn himself in.
Two other senators have so far been accused of participating in a years-long scam in which many politicians allegedly embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars that should have been spent on development projects. The list could go up to 200, according to some estimates.
Brazen corruption
An enduring feature of the Philippines' chaotic brand of democracy has been brazen corruption by politicians -- a major reason behind deep poverty in the Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people.
Also charged for plunder are his fellow Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, once the president of the Senate, and Jinggoy Estrada.
Enrile said he has packed his bags and is willing to be jailed, and will take the opportunity to clear his name.
“Mr. President, as I have said before, my conscience is clear. Now that the case against us has been filed, let us face them in court. Let us let the court decide. That is where I will defend myself,” Revilla told President Aquino in his speech titled “Salamat, Kaibigan” (Thank You friend).
“Regardless, Mr. President, I am prepared to be detained and sacrifice because I know that the truth will come out in due time,” he said.
Since the 16th Congress will adjourn sine die this week, Revilla’s speech was seen as a last-minute attempt to seek sympathy from and express gratitude to the Filipino people.
Plunder
On Thursday, an anti-graft court ordered his arrest on plunder charges.
Revilla turned himself in on Friday. The move is another step in the country's bid to shed its image as one of the most corrupt nations in Asia.
President Benigno Aquino took office in 2010 on a promise of good governance and battling graft.
He has made some progress, and enjoys popularity ratings of more than 70 percent, although he has failed to eradicate the problem.
Revilla turned himself in at the anti-corruption court, known as Sandiganbayan, after travelling in a convoy with family members and supporters from his home in Cavite province, south of the capital, Manila.
Revilla insisted he has done nothing wrong and was a victim of political persecution.
He and his family wore white clothes to symbolise innocence.
"I am ready to go to jail," he said.
Prosecutors were not listening to reason, he said, adding: "But I hope the court will be fair and I will have the chance to clear my name."
Revilla was later taken into detention at the national police headquarters where he would be held for the duration of his trial, police said. His lawyer applied for bail.
Revilla faces life imprisonment and forfeiture of any assets he may have illegally acquired if found guilty of pocketing more than 224 million pesos ($5.11 million) from congressional funds from 2007 to 2010.
