Sen. Jinggoy Estrada voluntarily surrenders to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in connection with the arrest warrant for his plunder case at the Sandiganbayan. (Photo by Lino Santos)

Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan surrendered to authorities Monday after the Sandiganbayan ordered their arrest over a nonbailable plunder case tied to an allegedly anomalous flood control infrastructure program.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and officials from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) went to the Senate building to escort the lawmaker into custody.

During a press conference at the legislature before his surrender, the senator denied allegations by the Office of the Ombudsman that he accepted P573 million in illicit kickbacks from nonexistent or substandard flood control projects.

“I stand my ground. I will not be broken by accusations, nor will I yield to political pressure. What is at stake here goes beyond my personal circumstances. What’s at stake here is the independence of the Senate,” Estrada said.

He claimed that he received multiple offers to get the legal charges against him dismissed if he agreed to desert the 13-member majority bloc led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

“As for who they are, just wait for the next chapter,” Estrada said.”If this is the price I must pay for the decisions I have made and the principles I have chosen to uphold, then I’m prepared to face the consequences, however difficult they may be, especially for my family,” he added.

The lawmaker asserted that he rejected those supposed proposals because his commitment to his Senate coalition peers outweighed his personal legal troubles.

Additionally, he said he would not seek protective custody from the upper chamber and noted that he had instructed the Senate Secretary to suspend his regular legislative salary while he defends himself in court.

“This institution must never become vulnerable to external pressure. It must remain free from political coercion, undue influence, and from any scheme designed to weaken its constitutional role as a coequal independent branch of government,” Estrada said.

Meanwhile, Bonoan also surrendered himself but was immediately rushed to Philippine National Police General Hospital as his blood pressure flared up while under the custody of the PNP-CIDG.

During a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla bared that Bonoan suffered hypertension, which may lead to stroke during his booking and medical proceedings.

“Secretary Bonoan is on his way to the hospital because his blood pressure is listed at 192/100. He will be kept there until… he stabilizes and the doctors will say he is fit to stand trial,” the interior secretary said.

Remulla also pointed out that even though Bonoan is under hospital care, he will be guarded and he will have restricted access.

On June 1, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division ordered the arrest of Estrada, Bonoan, with former DPWH officials Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, and Arturo Gonzales over their alleged links to the flood control scandal.

— Ram Superable & Vince Lopez