Estrada, Bonoan surrender after Sandiganbayan issues arrest order

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan have surrendered following the issuance yesterday by the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division of a warrant of arrest against them and three other co-accused in connection with the plunder case filed against them.

- JEL SANTOS, AARON RECUENCO, and CHITO CHAVEZ

The warrant, signed by Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses, stated “No Bail.” Also named in the warrant were former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Denryl Caesar S. Cortuna, and District Engineers Manny B. Bulusan and Arturo L. Gonzales Jr.

Estrada and Bonoan will be committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas. Prior to this, they were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame where they were subjected to booking procedures that included the taking of mug shots and fingerprints as part of the procedures in accordance with the arrest warrant.

In a press conference prior to his surrender, Estrada strongly denied the charges against him, saying: “Kalokohan ang lahat ng ito.” (These are all fabrications).

He admitted to being offered several times to leave the current majority bloc and join the minority but stood his ground.

“I will not seek Senate custody and use it to protect myself. I am ready to face the charges,” he stressed.

He also gave instructions to the Senate Secretary to put on hold his salary to show to the people that he has no intention to use public funds to clear his name.

On May 28, the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) filed plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged illegal budget insertions and the disbursement of more than P573 million in purported kickbacks involving DPWH infrastructure and flood-control projects funded under the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

In a statement issued on June 1, Estrada asked the anti-graft court to dismiss the plunder and graft charges filed against him.

Through an Urgent Omnibus Motion Ad Cautelam, Estrada said his legal team sought the quashing of the information and the dismissal of all cases against him.