Before 2 pm on Monday, June 1, there was buzz that the Sandiganbayan 5th Division had issued a warrant for Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s plunder and graft case.
Eleven minutes after 2 pm, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla confirmed the warrant to Rappler. He said the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) would implement it.
Shortly after that, the Sandiganbayan also confirmed the issuance of the warrants. Unlike the ones issued by the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division on Friday, May 29, these warrants hold more weight because plunder is non-bailable.
Before 3:30 pm, Remulla arrived at the Senate building where Estrada was staying. CIDG personnel were also spotted there.
Estrada held a press conference at around 3:45 pm to face his impending arrest. He announced that he had asked the Senate to withhold his salary while detained. He also claimed, again, that his cases stemming from flood control corruption were politically motivated.
