MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jinggoy Estrada will be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, over his plunder and graft cases that stemmed from his alleged involvement in flood control corruption.

The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan’s 5th Division confirmed Estrada’s detention facility on Monday, June 1, after the warrants have been issued against the senator and former Department of Public Works and Highways officials, including former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan.

Estrada is facing one count of non-bailable plunder and two counts of graft. The plunder and graft cases are pending with the 5th Division, while the other graft case is with the 2nd Division.

On Monday, the 5th Division issued a warrant that triggered Estrada’s surrender to the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Before surrendering, Estrada held a quick press conference at the Senate, where he denied the allegations against him and claimed that the allegations against him were politically motivated.

“I stand my ground because what is at stake here goes far beyond my personal circumstances. What is at stake is the independence of the Senate itself,” Estrada said.

“This institution must never become vulnerable to external pressure. It must remain free from political coercion, free from undue influence, and free from any scheme designed to weaken its constitutional role as a co-equal and independent branch of government,” he added.

Estrada went through booking procedures in Camp Crame in Quezon City — including mugshot taking — before he was turned over to the Sandiganbayan for the return of warrant. Later, the anti-graft court ordered Estrada’s detention at the New Quezon City Jail, the designated detention facility for accused in flood control-related cases.

Former senator Bong Revilla, Estrada’s fellow accused in the pork barrel scam, is also detained in Payatas over his flood control-related malversation and graft cases.

The Office of the Ombudsman charged Estrada and his fellow accused on May 28, after it found that there was an alleged scheme where funds were deliberately assigned to specific public infrastructure projects in exchange for commission fees or kickbacks.

Estrada allegedly received P573 million from the scheme. A plunder case may only be filed if the amount in question is at least P50 million.

This is Estrada’s third plunder charge. He was previously acquitted in cases related to the jueteng scandal and pork barrel scam. His graft cases related to the pork barrel are still pending before the anti-graft court up to now. – Rappler.com