SANDIGANBAYAN Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg clarified that the Fifth Division has not yet issued an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada regarding the plunder case linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
She explained that the process is currently on hold because of legal pleadings submitted by the senator’s legal team. “Wala pa kasi may mga motions na pending,” Econg told reporters, referring to the urgent motion filed Friday noon asking the court to refrain from issuing a warrant, which is now pending resolution before both the Second and Fifth Divisions.
When asked whether the issuance of the warrant will remain suspended until the motion is resolved, Econg confirmed that the pending plea will indeed affect the court’s next steps.
Unlike graft charges, where bail is allowed, plunder is classified as a non‑bailable offense; this means that once a warrant is released, the accused must be detained immediately. To be granted temporary liberty while the case proceeds, one facing plunder charges must first file a formal petition for bail and wait for the court’s approval.
Earlier that same day, the Second Division — also led by Econg — issued arrest warrants and hold departure orders against Estrada and his co‑accused, former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan, but only in connection with their graft case.
Both defendants were able to secure their temporary freedom right away after posting a bail bond of ₱90,000 each. Econg noted that in that case, the court had already completed its deliberations and determined probable cause before Estrada filed his motion, which is why the warrants were issued without delay. She emphasized that the situation differs for the plunder complaint before the Fifth Division, where the pending motion must first be addressed before any further action is taken.
