Marilyn Cahatol

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada during a Senate plenary session on August 1, 2022. Senate PRIB

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SENATE-PLENARY

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said it will arrest Sen. Jinggoy Estrada if a warrant on charges of plunder is issued for him by the Sandiganbayan, even if he is placed under Senate protective custody. </p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F4084199985135765%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="960" height="540" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>CIDG Director PMGen. Robert Morico II said authorities are bound to follow court orders and will enforce any warrant issued against the senator in connection with his plunder case stemming from his alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.</p><p>“We will have to follow the order of the court. If there is a warrant, we have to implement it,” Morico said.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/28/jinggoy-estrada-plunder-case-flood-control-scandal-1359">plunder and graft charges</a> before the Sandiganbayan against Estrada, making this the third plunder case lodged against the senator.</p><p>Estrada was <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/19/24/jinggoy-acquitted-of-plunder-guilty-of-direct-indirect-bribery">acquitted in his previous plunder cases.</a></p><p>Morico said that should the anti-graft court issue a warrant of arrest, CIDG personnel would carry out the arrest, process Estrada through standard booking procedures, and subsequently turn him over to the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>“I’m not particularly aware or pangunahan ng Sandiganbayan na lalabas ang warrant of arrest but if there is a warrant to arrest na ilalabas, we will arrest him. It&#x27;s up to the court to determine kung saan siya dadalhin,” Morico said.</p><p>Morico likewise cited the limitations of parliamentary immunity, noting that lawmakers may not be arrested while Congress is in session for offenses punishable by six years or less.</p><p>He said authorities would implement a warrant if the offense carries a higher penalty.</p><p>“If a case is below six years, hindi natin pwedeng [i-arrest] ‘yan kasi while in session. That&#x27;s the law. But we will be serving the warrant then we&#x27;ll inform him. But if it&#x27;s above, we will have to implement it,” Morico said.</p><p>“We will just follow the court kasi may co-equal branch nila ‘yan, so it&#x27;s up to the court to decide,” he added.</p><p>Plunder has a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://V">Jinggoy Estrada questions plunder, graft raps in omnibus motions</a></div><p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said he had given Estrada two options should a warrant be issued: <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/29/surrender-or-arrest-jinggoy-estrada-given-two-options-after-plunder-case-filing-dilg-1002">surrender voluntarily or face arrest.</a></p><p>Asked whether the Sandiganbayan would issue a warrant of arrest for the plunder charge on Monday, Remulla said he had “no idea yet.”</p><p>On Friday Estrada posted a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/29/jinggoy-estrada-arrest-warrant-out-1346">P90,000 bail</a> for graft charges filed against him alongside former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan&#x27;s 2nd Division.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zsxg9H5cUDg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said it will arrest Sen. Jinggoy Estrada if a warrant on charges of plunder is issued for him by the Sandiganbayan, even if he is placed under Senate protective custody.</p>

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday said it will arrest Sen. Jinggoy Estrada if a warrant on charges of plunder is issued for him by the Sandiganbayan, even if he is placed under Senate protective custody.

CIDG to enforce any arrest order vs. Estrada for plunder, even if placed under Senate protective custody

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CIDG to enforce any arrest order vs. Estrada for plunder, even if placed under Senate protective custody

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 01, 2026 01:36 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

CIDG

Senator Jinggoy Estrada

warrant of arrest

plunder

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