Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and three co-accused in a plunder case have been committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, following the implementation of court-issued custody orders, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
Citing information from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the DILG said Estrada, public works district engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales Jr. were transferred from the Sandiganbayan to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory at 8:15 p.m.
Public works assistant district engineer Denryl Cortuna was brought to the same facility earlier at 5:47 p.m.
Former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan, who is also accused in the case, was not among those transferred. He was brought to a Philippine National Police hospital due to high blood pressure after surrendering at Camp Crame.
The DILG said Estrada, Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna were moved to the jail after completing the required legal, medical and custodial procedures.
“Upon medical clearance, they were admitted to the general population in accordance with existing custodial procedures,” the department said.
The DILG maintained that all persons placed under BJMP custody are processed under the same rules regardless of rank, position or status.
“Court orders are implemented, due process is observed, and the law is applied equally to all,” it added.