SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada voluntarily surrendered to operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on June 1, 2026, shortly after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against him for the non‑bailable offense of plunder.
The case stems from allegations that he received around ₱573 million in kickbacks linked to flood control infrastructure projects. In a statement delivered at the Senate before turning himself in, Estrada made it clear that he would not invoke his position or the institution’s privileges to evade accountability. “I will not seek Senate custody. I will not use the Senate as a shield against the allegations thrown at me. I am ready to defend myself in court and will not hide behind this institution to avoid due process,” he declared.
As a gesture of sincerity and accountability, Estrada said he has requested the Senate secretary to suspend the release of his salary while the case is ongoing.
He emphasized that he does not wish to benefit from public funds while clearing his name against what he described as baseless and ridiculous accusations. Despite his legal troubles, Estrada confirmed he will remain a member of the majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
He revealed that he had received offers to abandon the “independent majority” in exchange for having his charges dropped — proposals which he claimed to have firmly rejected — though he did not name those behind the overtures or specify when they were made.
Estrada’s alignment with the majority dates back to May 11, the same day the House of Representatives was set to vote on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Addressing the political implications of his case, Estrada hinted at future revelations, saying: “If you are asking who they are, just wait for the next chapter. I stand my ground because what is at stake here goes far beyond my personal circumstances. What is at stake here is the independence of the Senate.” He stressed that the legislative body must remain free from pressure, coercion, and schemes meant to weaken its role as a co‑equal branch of government.
Reaffirming his resolve, Estrada stated: “I will meet these charges head‑on, defend my honor through due process, and place my faith in the truth.” He once again questioned the basis of the plunder complaint, citing a letter from the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office showing he had no record of budget insertions in the 2025 appropriations.
However, the Office of the Ombudsman maintained that the certification does not cover all stages of the budget process, noting that fund manipulations can occur in layers not reflected in initial documents. Aside from plunder, Estrada also faces a separate graft case, for which he had previously posted bail.
