The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) expressed confidence that the Senate will not place Senator Jinggoy Estrada under protective custody once an arrest warrant is issued against him in connection with his plunder case involving alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.
According to NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag, a local court is now expected to issue the warrant against Estrada, specifically the Sandiganbayan, which handles graft and corruption cases involving public officials.
Matibag pointed out that the Senate previously argued in the case of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa that a senator may only be surrendered to authorities if the warrant comes from a Philippine court. Since the Sandiganbayan is a local court, he said there should no longer be any issue regarding the implementation of the warrant.
The NBI chief stressed that placing Estrada under Senate protective custody would contradict the chamber’s own earlier position on locally issued warrants.
“Well, kung andyan yung warrant, ano bang mandate ng NBI, we have no choice but to enforce the warrant of arrest. As long as the warrant is valid and legal, so we will enforce the warrant of arrest,” Matibag said.
“I think it was already been settled eh kasi si Senator De Lima, si Senator Trillanes noon, di ba? At sila na rin yung nagsabi during the conversation namin noong May 11 na hindi daw local court. This time, it's Sandiganbayan is the local court. So effectively, they already surrendered na pagka local court, wala silang question,” he added.
Matibag further expressed confidence that the Senate would cooperate with law enforcement authorities if the warrant is released.
“And I'm sure they will not put in protective custody because otherwise, they will be the one defying kung ano yung posisyon noon pa man,” the NBI director said.
The bureau also assured the public that it is prepared to arrest Estrada even if he seeks refuge inside the Senate premises.
