The Sandiganbayan Second Division on Friday issued a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order (HDO) against Senator Jinggoy Estrada over his alleged involvement in a graft case connected to controversial flood control projects.
The anti-graft court confirmed that the arrest order and travel restriction were released after the case was assigned to its Second Division.
Also ordered arrested were several co-accused, including former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and other officials and engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Among those included in the court order were former DPWH engineers Denryl Cortuna, Arturo Gonzales Jr., and Manny Bulosan.
The charges stem from allegations of kickbacks and irregularities tied to flood control projects, including supposed anomalous budget insertions and misuse of public works funds.
The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed graft and plunder complaints against Estrada, with plunder considered a non-bailable offense carrying a penalty of life imprisonment.
Estrada maintained his innocence and said he was prepared to face the accusations.
“As I have said before, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing by my principles and for what I believe in, then so be it. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang paghahanap ng katotohanan at ang pagtatanggol sa aking pangalan sa tamang forum at alinsunod sa batas,” he said in a statement.
The senator added that he and his legal team would “exhaust all legal remedies” while raising concerns over what they described as irregularities in the filing of the case and the evidence presented against him.
Authorities have yet to announce when the arrest warrants and hold departure orders will be enforced.