JINGGOY ESTRADA SURRENDERS TO CIDG

SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada on Monday surrendered to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) following a plunder warrant  related to the flood control controversy.

Estrada surrendered after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued a second arrest warrant against him on plunder charges stemming from an alleged P573-million kickback scheme linked to controversial flood control projects.

The surrender came days after the Sandiganbayan Second Division issued an arrest warrant against Estrada in a bailable graft case. He was able to post P90,000 bail.

Before leaving the Senate for Camp Crame in Quezon City, Estrada read a statement before reporters saying he would not seek Senate custody or use the institution as a shield from the charges.

 “Hindi ako papasailalim sa kustodiya ng Senado. I will not seek Senate custody. Hindi ko gagamitin ang Senado bilang panangga laban sa mga alegasyon sa akin,” Estrada said.

“I will be proceeding now to the CIDG to voluntarily surrender myself,”  he added.

According to Estrada, he is prepared to defend himself in court and prove that the allegations against him have no basis.

Estrada also said he has instructed the Senate Secretary to put his salary on hold while he clears his name.

“I am giving instructions to the Senate Secretary to put my salary on hold. Personal kong pasya ito upang ipakita sa sambayanang Pilipino na wala akong intensiyong makinabang sa pondo ng bayan habang nililinis ko ang aking pangalan,” Estrada further said.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla arrived at the Senate at around 3:30 p.m. “to implement the warrant of arrest” from the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division. 

“Sumama po si Jinggoy, binasahan siya ng Miranda rights niya, kasama ang kanyang abogado. Mapayapa siyang sumama dito sa CIDG, prinocess, inaresto,” Remulla said in a separate press briefing.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano accompanied Estrada to Camp Crame.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division issued the warrant after the Office of the Ombudsman accused Estrada of receiving commissions from allegedly irregular flood control projects funded under the 2025 national budget.

Estrada denied any involvement in the alleged scheme, citing the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office that it had no document or record showing that he made any insertion in the 2025 national budget.

Aside from Estrada, also facing the arrest warrant are former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH engineers Denryl Cortuna and Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales Jr.

NO SENATE SESSION AFTER JINGGOY’S ARREST

The Senate held no session on Monday after members of the majority skipped the proceedings following the arrest of Estrada.

Only members of the minority were at the session hall on Monday when the session was supposed to start.

Senator Raffy Tulfo slammed the majority bloc’s no-show at the scheduled Monday plenary session, describing it as a “boycott” of their legislative duties.