Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Monday said he would remain with the Senate majority bloc despite the plunder case filed against him, claiming he had been offered the dismissal of charges in exchange for abandoning his political allies.
Estrada made the statement during a press conference at the Senate after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest for plunder, a non-bailable offense.
“I will remain firmly with the majority bloc under the leadership of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. Hindi ako matitinag sa anumang panggigipit, pananakot, political maneuvering para talikuran ang paninindigan kong ito,” Estrada said.
“I will not yield to threats. I will not be intimidated. I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgment,” he added.
Estrada was joined at the press conference by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Imee Marcos, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, and Pia Cayetano, who appeared in a show of support.
The senator claimed that several attempts had been made to convince him to leave the independent majority bloc in exchange for the supposed dropping of the cases against him.
“Ngayon ko lang isasapubliko ito. Maraming beses na akong inalok na talikuran ang independent majority bloc kapalit ang pagbabasura sa aking kaso, ngunit hindi ko ito tinanggap,” Estrada said.
“Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ko na manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc. Kung sino sila, abangan niyo na lang ang susunod na kabanata,” he added.
Estrada said his decision to stay with the majority bloc goes beyond his personal situation, stressing that the independence of the Senate is at stake.
“What is at stake is the independence of the Senate itself,” he said.
He said the chamber must remain free from external pressure, undue influence, and any scheme meant to weaken its constitutional role as a co-equal and independent branch of government.
Estrada said he was ready to face the consequences of his decision, even if it would be difficult for his family.
He also said he had instructed the Senate secretary to put his salary on hold while he is in detention, saying he does not want to benefit from taxpayers’ money while unable to perform his duties.
Estrada said he voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and would not seek sanctuary in the Senate.
He maintained that the charges against him were baseless, citing the Senate Legislative Budget and Research Monitoring Office’s supposed statement that there were no records showing he inserted items into the 2025 national budget.
“So, how can the Office of the Ombudsman file a plunder case against me when I am not even alleged to be part of, or the mastermind of, the supposed scheme? Wala akong kinalaman diyan,” Estrada said.
“I will never be broken by accusations, nor will I yield to political pressure. I will meet these charges head-on, defend my honor through due process, and place my faith in the truth,” he added.