Malacañang: No obstruction of justice in Jinggoy Estrada arrest

Malacañang on Tuesday said there was no obstruction of justice on the part of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano despite his tense exchange with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla during the serving of an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark as she clarified that Estrada was arrested by authorities and did not voluntarily surrender.

“Hindi naman siya obstruction of justice. ’Di naman niya itinago,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

(There’s no obstruction of justice. He did not hide Estrada.)

“Nagkataon lang pinipigilan niya dahil siguro iniisip niya, siya ang Senate President at nasa lugar siya, at ang sinasabi niya ay this is not for Senator Jinggoy, but for the institution,” she added.

(He may have been trying to hold things back because he likely thinks that, as Senate President, he had a role to play, and what he was saying was this was not for Senator Jinggoy, but for the institution.)

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday issued arrest warrants against Estrada and others in connection with P573-million plunder and graft charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Estrada has denied the allegations.

Members of the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) served the arrest warrant against Estrada at the Senate, where Cayetano and Remulla figured in a heated exchange.

Cayetano argued that Estrada should have been allowed to leave Senate premises first and be arrested outside.

Remulla, however, countered that Cayetano had lost the privilege of extending such accommodation to a senator facing arrest, citing the earlier case involving Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who had been allowed to leave Senate premises under similar circumstances.

Arrested, not surrendered

Citing Remulla, Castro said what transpired on Monday should be considered an arrest and not a voluntary surrender of Estrada.

“Matatawag po itong pag-aresto dahil hindi po boluntaryong pumunta si Senator Jinggoy Estrada mismo sa mga law enforcers, hindi pumunta sa CIDG, sa PNP o sa korte, sa Sandiganbayan,” she said.

(This can be considered an arrest because Senator Jinggoy Estrada did not voluntarily go to law enforcers, the CIDG, the PNP, or the court, or the Sandiganbayan.)

Castro made the clarification a day after she earlier commended Estrada’s “voluntary surrender” to authorities, contrasting it with the situation involving Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa.

The Palace press officer also reiterated that Malacañang had no involvement in the developments at the Senate.

This came in response to Senate President Cayetano’s statement questioning the Senate’s independence.

Cayetano also urged members of the minority bloc to join the majority in calling for the Senate to “go quiet” following Estrada’s arrest.

“Senate independence—independence from what? Ano ba ang pinapalagan ni Senator Alan Cayetano? Saan ba nakialam ang Pangulo?

(Senate independence—independence from what? What is Senator Alan Cayetano referring to? Where did the President interfere?)

"Tama lamang po na i-serve ang valid warrant of arrest. Ang ibig po ba niyang sabihin, kapag nagsisilbi ng valid warrant of arrest sa Senado sa mga ganitong klaseng crimes ay dapat hindi isilbi?” Castro said.

(It is only right to serve a valid warrant of arrest. Does he mean that when a valid arrest warrant is served in the Senate for these crimes, it should not be served?)

Castro stressed the need for equal application of the law and cooperation among government branches amid tensions surrounding Estrada's arrest.

“Papaano magkakaroon ng pagtutulungan, kooperasyon ang bawat sangay ng gobyerno kung mayroong magmamataas, mayroong hindi tutupad sa batas at mayroong maghahari-harian? Hindi puwede ang ganoon. Lahat po dapat ay patas,” she said.

(How can there be cooperation among branches of government if some act arrogantly, some do not follow the law, and some act like kings? That is not acceptable. Everything should be fair.)—MCG, GMA News