Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said he is prepared to use all available legal remedies to challenge graft and plunder charges filed against him as authorities anticipate the possible issuance of an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that he had spoken with Estrada regarding possible steps and options related to the expected warrant. However, Remulla declined to disclose the details of those options, saying it would be up to the senator whether to consider or accept them.
The charges stem from a complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, which accused Estrada of involvement in an alleged flood control scam and receiving more than P573 million in kickbacks.
In a separate statement, Estrada questioned the process behind the filing of the graft cases against him. He claimed there were irregularities and possible violations of due process in the proceedings that led to the filing of the cases before the Sandiganbayan.
The senator maintained that he would contest the allegations through legal channels. He also cited a certification issued by the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO), which he said showed that he had no budget insertions in the 2025 national budget.
According to Estrada, authorities allegedly disregarded the certification despite its relevance to the flood control projects at the center of the allegations.
He further questioned the speed with which the cases were filed, arguing that he was not given sufficient time to study the resolutions issued by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman before filing a motion for reconsideration.
The legal cases against Estrada are expected to proceed through the appropriate judicial process.
