The Akbayan Party has welcomed the issuance of an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with a non-bailable plunder case, calling it a significant step toward accountability and justice.

In a statement, the group urged the immediate implementation of the warrant and Estrada’s detention, saying the case represents long-standing issues of corruption that have deprived Filipinos of public funds meant for essential services.

“Akbayan Party welcomes the issuance of the arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada in the non-bailable plunder case as a necessary step toward accountability,” the group said. “We call for its immediate implementation and his imprisonment, as a crucial move toward justice for three generations of Filipinos robbed of public resources that should have gone to education, healthcare, housing, disaster resilience, and decent livelihoods.”

The party also alleged that Estrada has been repeatedly linked to corruption controversies across different administrations, describing him as a symbol of entrenched impunity.

“Estrada is a recidivist in corruption controversies, repeatedly implicated across different administrations and eras. Having previously been charged, arrested, and jailed in other corruption-related cases, he stands as a symbol of entrenched elite plunder and impunity,” the statement read.

Akbayan further stressed that no public official should be above the law and called on the Sandiganbayan and other justice institutions to ensure swift and impartial proceedings.

“We urge the Sandiganbayan to reject any appeal aimed at delaying or suspending the warrant’s execution,” it said, adding that the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the courts should pursue all credible corruption cases without fear or favor.

The group also issued a warning to Senate leadership, urging it not to intervene in the execution of the warrant, emphasizing that accountability must be upheld regardless of political position.