Senator Jinggoy Estrada is now detained at the Quezon City jail after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ordered his arrest on Monday for plunder, a non-bailable offense.
Members of the minority in the Senate on Monday won't heed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's call to let the Senate "fall silent" after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's arrest on plunder charges.
"Let us focus on the work, because the Senate has serious business before it, and if the majority wants to protest, deliver privilege speeches, or defend its position, the proper place to do that is on the floor, not by making the chamber stand still," said the Solid Bloc 11 in a statement.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Monday denied that the P573-million plunder and graft charges filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his four other co-accused are politically motivated.
Clavano was responding to Estrada’s allegation that he was approached to abandon the Senate majority bloc in exchange for the charges against him being dropped.
“Walang sinumang pwedeng magdesisyon sa ngalan ng Ombudsman pagdating sa mga nakabinbing kaso, dahil ang paggawa nito ay maituturing ding isang uri ng korapsyon,” Clavano said in a statement.
The Senate held no session on Monday after members of the majority skipped the proceedings following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the plunder case he is facing over alleged congressional insertions and kickbacks tied to anomalous flood control projects.
Only members of the minority were at the session hall on Monday by 5 p.m., when the session was supposed to start according to the adjournment on May 26.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, before surrendering to the police, issued a statement saying he would neither seek custody from the Senate nor use it to shield himself from the allegations against him.
"I will not seek Senate custody. Hindi ko gagamitin ang Senado bilang panangga laban sa mga alegasyon sa akin," he added.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his four other co-accused in the P573 million plunder and graft charges over their alleged involvement in the flood control mess will be detained at the New Quezon City Male Dormitory Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division confirmed Monday.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, where the plunder and graft charges against the accused are pending, made the confirmation after ordering the arrest of Estrada and the four others.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan surrendered to authorities on Monday afternoon following an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.
According to GMA News’ Mariz Umali, Bonoan appeared at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered Monday afternoon to the members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in light of an arrest warrant issued against him by the Sandiganbayan.
Members of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) were seen at the Senate on Monday shortly after the Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
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