Jinggoy Estrada Now Held at Quezon City Jail Following Surrender
JINGGOY ESTRADA – The senator is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory in Payatas, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). Authorities confirmed that he was taken into custody after voluntarily surrendering following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a major flood control corruption case.
Several of Estrada’s co-accused, including Denryl Caeser Cortuna, Manny Bumagat Bulusan, and Arturo Lombres Gonzales Jr., are also being held at the same facility. The BJMP said that all four individuals underwent the required medical examinations before being admitted to the jail and placed among the regular jail population. Jail officials also emphasized that no special treatment or VIP privileges would be granted to any of the detainees.
The case began after the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges on May 28, 2026. Estrada, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and several former DPWH officials were accused of involvement in an alleged multibillion-peso flood control corruption scheme. Investigators claimed that Estrada received about ₱573 million in illegal payments linked to government flood control projects. The charges include plunder and multiple counts of graft and corruption.
Earlier, on May 29, Estrada and Bonoan surrendered after arrest warrants were issued in connection with the graft charges. Since those charges were bailable, both posted bail and were temporarily released while court proceedings continued. However, on June 1, the Sandiganbayan issued a separate arrest warrant against Estrada for the plunder charge after finding sufficient basis to proceed with the case. Because plunder is a non-bailable offense, Estrada was taken into custody and transferred to the Quezon City Jail.
Before surrendering, Estrada denied the allegations and said he would challenge the charges through the legal process. He also announced that he would voluntarily stop receiving his salary and allowances as a senator while in detention. In addition, he stated that he would not seek protective custody from the Senate and would instead comply with the court’s orders and the rules of the detention facility while awaiting trial.