Senator Jinggoy Estrada turned up at the Sandiganbayan on Friday to post bail, hours after the anti-graft court’s Second Division ordered his arrest over graft allegations tied to the flood control controversy, according to The Manila Times.
His appearance was foreshadowed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who told reporters by phone that the senator’s side had relayed word of the trip. “It is a bailable case. So, I coordinated with Senator Jinggoy’s camp and they informed me that he is on his way to the Sandiganbayan,” Remulla said.
The court fixed bail at P90,000. Estrada signaled he would not contest the process, saying in a statement, “I am personally posting bail before the Sandiganbayan in relation to the arrest warrant issued by its Second Division,” and adding that “Posting bail is a legal remedy available to me under our justice system, and I intend to avail myself of every lawful means to defend myself and clear my name.” He flatly denied wrongdoing: “Mariin kong itinatanggi ang mga paratang laban sa akin.”
Alongside the warrant, the division chaired by Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg imposed hold departure orders. Those orders also cover former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and three engineers named as co-accused — Denryl Cortuna, Arturo Gonzales Jr., and Manny Bulosan.
The cases originate from an Office of the Ombudsman investigation that pointed to manipulated budget insertions and project allocations within the Department of Public Works and Highways in 2025. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the inquiry traced more than P573 million in kickbacks to the senator, describing “an intricate mechanism involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations within the DPWH infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025.”
Friday’s warrant addresses only the bailable graft count. Remulla has indicated a separate, non-bailable order tied to the plunder complaint before the Fifth Division could be handed down as early as Monday — a charge that, unlike the one Estrada answered today, would carry no option of release.
