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Senator Jinggoy Estrada, heavily escorted by BJMP personnel, emerges from the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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SEN- JINGGOY ESTRADA ARRAIGNMENT

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178159735911120260602-jinggoy-estrada-arraignment-JC3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Jinggoy Estrada, heavily escorted by BJMP personnel, emerges from the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City after appearing for his arraignment on graft charges alongside former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (2ND UPDATE) - The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s graft case over the alleged flood control kickback scheme, has ordered his 90-day preventive suspension effective on June 16.</p><p>The court, chaired by Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg, said it has already transmitted the order to the Senate.</p><p>In his comment filed on June 15, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada argued that he should not be preventively suspended since he has yet to be granted the full opportunity to question the regularity of the preliminary investigation proceedings before the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman.</p><p>“The rationale for preventive suspension does not apply to the factual circumstances of the present case; and that the preventive suspension without sufficient factual justification will effectively operate as a penalty imposed upon accused Estrada without due process,” the resolution read.</p><p>However, the prosecution said there is a criminal prosecution under a valid criminal information which warrants the preventive suspension against Estrada for his graft charge. </p><p>It also noted that since Estrada is an incumbent public officer and his case is pending before the court, the conditions under the anti-graft and corrupt practices act were met.</p><p>The court’s Second and Fifth Division earlier directed the prosecution and the defense to submit their respective positions on whether Estrada should be preventively suspended from his post as senator.</p><p>Under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Plunder Law, courts are mandated to place incumbent public officials under preventive suspension once a valid criminal information has been filed against them. </p><p>This is to prevent the intimidation of witnesses, tampering with evidence, or the misuse of official authority while the case is pending.</p><p>“Once a proper determination of the validity of the information has been made, it becomes the ministerial duty of the court to forthwith issue the order of preventive suspension. Considering that it has already been duly determined that the facts charged in the Information constitute a violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019… the Court finds that the imposition of suspension pendente lite is in order,” the resolution read.</p><p>Estrada, in a statement in reaction to his suspension, said he has taken steps to show that he will not use the powers of his office to shield himself from the allegations against him.</p><p>&quot;Kasabay ng aking desisyon na hindi magpasailalim sa protective custody ng Senado at ang aking boluntaryong pagsuko sa mga awtoridad nang lumabas ang warrant of arrest laban sa akin ay ang agarang pagbibigay-alam ko sa Senate Secretary na ipatigil muna ang aking sahod. Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip sa mga hakbang na ito sapagkat malinaw sa akin na walang puwang ang personal na interes sa gitna ng isang prosesong layuning linawin ang katotohanan,&quot; Estrada said.</p><p>&quot;Ayokong mabigyan ng anumang bahid ng pagdududa ang aking layunin na igalang ang proseso at patunayan ang aking sarili sa tamang forum. Ginawa ko ang mga hakbang na ito dahil sa paninindigan at prinsipyo,&quot; he added. &quot;At this stage, I remain open to availing myself of all legal remedies under the law.&quot;</p><p>The court’s Second Division previously entered a not guilty plea for Estrada after the senator refused to submit a plea for his graft charge.</p><p>Meanwhile, Estrada and his co-accused ex-DPWH NCR officials are set to be arraigned on June 30 for their plunder and graft charges before the court’s Fifth Division.</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/jinggoy-estrada-to-stay-with-majority-won-t-get-salary-after-fresh-warrant-1610">&#x27;I will not yield to threats&#x27;: Jinggoy Estrada links plunder case to Senate allegiance</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/remulla-says-no-special-treatment-for-estrada-co-accused-in-plunder-case-2114">Remulla says no special treatment for Estrada, co-accused in plunder case</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/cayetano-wants-senate-minority-to-defend-chamber-s-independence-amid-estrada-arrest-2019">Cayetano wants Senate minority to defend chamber’s independence amid Estrada arrest</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sZc-LwlDsqI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZhngXQz9MM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VO7omFgDAIE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);--darkreader-inline-color:var(--darkreader-text-000000, #f4f2ee)" data-darkreader-inline-color=""/></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s graft case over the alleged flood control kickback scheme, has ordered his 90-day preventive suspension.</p>

The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which is handling Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s graft case over the alleged flood control kickback scheme, has ordered his 90-day preventive suspension.

Sandiganbayan places Estrada under 90-day preventive suspension

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Sandiganbayan places Estrada under 90-day preventive suspension

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 03:55 PM PHT

|

Updated June 16, 2026 05:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Sandiganbayan

Jinggoy Estrada

flood control

suspension

Senate

graft

plunder

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