The Philippine police had clapped two senators in jail by June 26th and had two secure hospital rooms ready for a third as they began rounding up politicians accused of stealing public funds. The round-up is rocking the political establishment. It appears to reinvigorate President Benigno Aquino's campaign against corruption. The hallmark of his presidency, it had flagged since his predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, was arrested on graft charges in 2011. The opposition says the round-up is simply a political vendetta, and that in a genuine campaign members of the ruling coalition would be jailed, too. Ramon "Bong" Revilla, son of an ex-senator, and Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, the son of an ex-president, were the first senators to be arrested. The third facing prosecution is Juan Ponce "Johnny" Enrile, a veteran of President Ferdinand Marcos's regime. If convicted, they may face life imprisonment. All are members of the opposition.
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