Jinggoy denies being 'arrested' in US
MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED) Embattled Sen. Jinggoy Estrada reacted to a fake report circulating online that he has been arrested in the United States for allegedly smuggling money.
In a statement posted in his social media accounts, Estrada said he was informed by his staff about an article circulating in Facebook saying that he was arrested in the US for bringing in huge amount of cash.
"That is absolutely NOT TRUE. I've been seen by a number of Filipinos and were happy to see me and even took pics of me. That story is incredible to say the least," Estrada said.
Estrada was referring to the article from the satirical news website So, What's News? which reported that the senator was apprehended and detained by officials inside San Francisco International Airport (SFIA) after he supposedly tried to get past customs while keeping a huge amount of money.
In reality, the senator left for the US over the weekend to consult doctors there about the medical condition of his wife, who has been diagnosed with a lump in her breast.
However, the fake news report said: "But it turns out, his wife was not with him on the trip, and it was the senator instead who had a lump on his breast."
The fake report said authorities discovered bundles of money "hidden inside Estrada’s ‘muscles’ and skin" that the lawmaker was trying to smuggle in to the US.
"We counted millions worth of Pesos that we suspect belongs to the Filipinos,†the bogus report quoted SFIA Head of Security Trevor Philip Ogg as saying.
Estrada is facing plunder charges in the Philippines after being accused of receiving kickbacks in the alleged pork barrel scam supposedly masterminded by his friend Janet Lim Napoles.
The businesswoman, the alleged central figure in the scam, has been accused of setting up bogus non-government organizations and foundations that siphoned lawmakers' pork barrel funds.
Estrada, one of the people embroiled into the controversy, has vowed to return to the Philippines after his US trip.
"No one can prevent me from returning to my country and I will continue my perfect attendance in the Senate," he said in a previous STAR report.
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