Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla responded to Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s claim that certain individuals allegedly approached him and persuaded him to leave the Senate majority bloc in exchange for the dismissal of his pending cases before the Sandiganbayan.

“May mga sinabi kasi si Senator Jinggoy Estrada na marami daw kumakausap sa kanya tungkol sa mga kaso. Ang sasabihin ko lang sa mga kung sino man ang merong kumakausap, hindi ho ako nakikipag-usap kahit kanino tungkol sa ganyang bagay,” Remulla clarified during DZRH’s Executive Session on Saturday, June 6.

“Kasi kung ano ang ebidensya, ‘yan po ang aming susundin…We will follow the evidence. Walang pwedeng mangako,” he added.

Remulla stressed that the Office of the Ombudsman cannot be used as a tool for political purposes or any form of political transaction.

On Monday, June 1, Estrada voluntarily surrendered to the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), following the issuance of a second arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan. The senator is facing a non-bailable plunder case in connection with the flood control scandal.

Before his arrest, Estrada faced the public via a press conference, claiming that he had been repeatedly offered a deal to leave the majority bloc.

“Ngayon ko lang po isasapubliko ito. Maraming beses po akong inalok na talikuran ang independent majority bloc kapalit ang pagbabasura sa aking kaso. Ngunit, hindi ko po ito tinanggap. Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ko na ako ay manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc,” he said.

However, the senator declined to identify the individuals he was referring to, saying, “Kung tatanungin niyo kung sino sila, abangan niyo na lang ang susunod na kabanata.”