SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada and three others charged alongside him in connection with the alleged ₱573‑million flood control funds anomaly have been transferred to the Quezon City Jail ‑ Male Dormitory in Payatas, where they will be detained while facing plunder and graft charges.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed this development on Tuesday, stating that the group was brought to the facility on Monday following the issuance of arrest warrants by the Sandiganbayan’s 5th Division. The cases stem from a complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman regarding alleged kickbacks and irregularities in infrastructure projects.
According to BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera, Denryl Caeser Cortuna was turned over to jail authorities at 5:47 PM, while Estrada, Manny Bumagat Bulusan, and Arturo Lombres Gonzales Jr. arrived later at 8:15 PM.
Bustinera emphasized that despite the high‑profile nature of the case and the involvement of a serving senator, no preferential treatment will be given to any of the accused. “The BJMP firmly assures the public that no VIP treatment will be extended,” he declared, adding that all four have undergone standard medical screening and have been integrated into the facility’s general population of persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
The four detainees will be subject to the same regulations, security protocols, and custodial measures applied to every other inmate in the jail facility.
Meanwhile, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is facing the same charges, remains at the PNP General Hospital where he was brought after surrendering due to elevated blood pressure levels. Authorities said he will be transferred to the appropriate detention facility only once doctors clear him for transfer and confinement.
Estrada has repeatedly denied any involvement in the alleged scheme, describing the accusations as baseless and devoid of truth.
“I strongly deny the accusations against me. These are without basis and devoid of truth. I respect the rule of law and our judicial institutions, and this is precisely why I voluntarily submitted myself to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,” the senator stated earlier. He has maintained that he is ready to face the legal process to clear his name, while authorities continue to ensure that proceedings are carried out fairly and in accordance with the law.
