Former Senator Gringo Honasan expressed support for Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s decision to submit himself to the legal process and answer the plunder and graft charges filed against him in connection with alleged irregularities involving flood control projects.
Speaking in a television interview on Monday, Honasan said Estrada’s move to face the accusations before the Sandiganbayan demonstrated his confidence in the country’s judicial system.
“(Estrada) has decided to subject himself to due process believing that he will get a fair share.”
Honasan noted that Estrada, who had previously faced charges related to the pork barrel scam, was taking the appropriate legal course by confronting the allegations instead of evading court proceedings.
His remarks came shortly after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued a warrant for Estrada’s arrest over a ₱573-million plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. The senator is accused alongside several current and former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The plunder charge is non-bailable and carries the penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction.
Honasan also stressed the importance of maintaining public trust in the justice system, warning that a loss of confidence in legal institutions could push people to seek remedies outside established democratic processes.
“What is the alternative? If you cannot trust the judicial system, where will you go? You go outside and seek redress outside, which is dangerous for a 120-year-old democracy like us.”
The former senator likewise called on both government officials and the public to uphold the rule of law and allow the courts to resolve cases without political interference.
“First responsibility of any government is order. Kapag nagsalita na yung Korte Suprema, siguro naman sumunod tayo without converting it into a partisan political issue which has resulted in weaponizing everything.”
Estrada has denied the allegations and is seeking the dismissal of the charges, arguing that he should first be allowed to exhaust all available legal remedies.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Estrada surrendered to authorities on Monday and was later brought to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, Quezon City, where he was set to undergo processing before his arraignment and pretrial proceedings.
Also detained at the same facility is former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is facing separate criminal cases linked to the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.