Sen. Jinggoy Estrada Surrenders to PNP-CIDG Over ₱573-M Flood Control Plunder Case

Senator Jinggoy Estrada voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at Camp Crame on Monday, June 1, 2026, after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ordered his arrest over a multi-million peso plunder case.

The non-bailable arrest warrant stems from a ₱573-million plunder charge linked to alleged kickbacks from highly anomalous flood control projects. This is the second arrest order served to Estrada in four days, following a separate bailable graft warrant issued last Friday, for which he posted a ₱90,000 bond.

No Shield" Strategy

In a tearful press conference held at the Senate building just before heading to police custody, a visibly emotional Estrada maintained his innocence, claiming the accusations against him are entirely baseless and politically motivated.

Breaking away from historical upper-chamber precedents, Estrada emphasized that he would not hide behind the institution.

"I will not seek Senate custody. Hindi ko gagamitin ang Senado bilang panangga laban sa mga alegasyon sa akin (I will not use the Senate as a shield against the allegations targeting me)," Estrada told reporters. He added that he will voluntarily put his senatorial salary on hold while undergoing due process.

Co-Accused Facing Arrest

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division’s order also mandated the arrest of several high-ranking public works officials indicted alongside the senator. The co-accused named in the ₱573-million flood control scandal include: Manuel Bonoan (Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary), Denryl Caesar Cortuna (DPWH Assistant District Engineer), Manny Bulusan (DPWH District Engineer), and Arturo Gonzales Jr. (DPWH District Engineer)

Legal Implications & History

Because plunder is a capital offense under Philippine law, it carries a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison and is fundamentally non-bailable if the prosecution's evidence of guilt is deemed strong. This marks the third time in Estrada’s political career that he has faced plunder raps, following an acquittal in a 2007 jueteng case and a 2024 acquittal over the multi-billion peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) "pork barrel" scam.

Following standard operating procedures, the PNP-CIDG will subject Estrada to booking, fingerprinting, and mugshots. He will subsequently be turned over to the Sandiganbayan, which holds the sole legal authority to issue a formal commitment order determining his specific place of detention.

Photo Courtesy of DILG Philippines / Facebook

5:53 AM, June 2, 2026 – Senator Jinggoy Estrada and three former public works officials have been officially detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas following their arrest over a massive ₱573-million flood control plunder scandal. According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the four accused were transferred late Monday evening, June 1, 2026, after completing mandatory legal, medical, and custodial processing.

Late-Night Jail Commitment

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed that Assistant District Engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna was the first to be booked at 5:47 p.m.. Senator Estrada, along with District Engineers Manny Bumagat Bulusan and Arturo Lombres Gonzales Jr., was admitted to the facility at 8:15 p.m. following rigorous physical evaluations.

The DILG emphasized that all four individuals were found to be in good health and have been integrated into the jail’s general population. "Court orders are implemented, due process is observed, and the law is applied equally to all," the DILG stated, reaffirming that no special treatment will be granted regardless of political status.

Voluntary Surrender and Hospital Detention

The law enforcement action began earlier on Monday after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued warrants of arrest for the non-bailable offense of plunder. Instead of requesting protective Senate custody, Estrada surrendered voluntarily to the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at the Senate building, where he requested that his official legislative salary be put on hold.

While Estrada and the three engineers were successfully booked into the Payatas facility, a fourth co-accused—former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan—was diverted to an undisclosed hospital. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed that Bonoan's blood pressure spiked dangerously to 192/100, prompting an emergency medical hold due to an imminent risk of stroke. Bonoan remains under heavy, restricted police guard and will be transferred to the anti-graft court once stable.

The ₱573-Million Flood Control Scam

The sudden arrests come just days after Estrada posted a ₱90,000 bail for a lesser, separate graft charge handled by the court's Second Division. The ongoing Fifth Division case, initiated by investigations from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman, alleges thatEstrada and the DPWH executives orchestrated an expansive kickback scheme tied to multi-million pesos worth of public infrastructure and flood mitigation contracts.

Notably, the high-tech New Quezon City Jail in Payatas—designed to hold up to 800 inmates—is the exact same detention center where former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. is currently being held on separate malversation and graft charges. Estrada maintains that the charges against him are entirely baseless and vows to clear his name through standard judicial procedures.