During a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla said all five individuals covered by the arrest warrant would undergo the same procedures imposed on any person placed under police custody.
“Wala talaga. Same as the others who have been co-accused. Depende kung saan sasabihin ng Sandigan. They will be dealt fairly, equally. No special privileges,” Remulla said.
The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Estrada, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales, and Denryl Caesar Cortuna over plunder charges linked to the flood control scandal.
All five accused were taken into government custody on Monday afternoon.
Remulla said Estrada had already been informed of his Miranda rights before the briefing.
According to the DILG chief, there would be no air-conditioned detention facility, special meals, or exclusive accommodations for Estrada.
He added that the senator’s daily conditions inside the detention facility would be the same as those of other detainees. Remulla also said detainees are prohibited from using cellphones and may only receive visitors during authorized visiting hours.
Estrada arrived at the Sandiganbayan together with a DPWH official also accused in the case for the return of warrant proceedings.
Meanwhile, Bonoan surrendered to authorities but was later rushed to the Philippine National Police General Hospital inside Camp Crame after reportedly suffering from hypertension while undergoing processing.
Remulla confirmed that Bonoan is currently under hospital arrest.
“There is a baseline for good health kasi nakalagay condition of reasonable health. So kapag bumaba, mag-stabilize ang blood pressure niya, magre-return of warrant na sa Fifth Division,” he said.
The former DPWH secretary will remain under medical observation until doctors declare him fit to stand trial, after which he will be brought before the Sandiganbayan.
Remulla added that custody of the accused now falls under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, while the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will oversee detention procedures.
Any request for hospital confinement or transfer, he said, would require court approval.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano also arrived at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters to show support for Estrada.
Before the press briefing, Remulla disclosed that he had a heated exchange with Cayetano, who allegedly argued that no senator should be arrested inside the Senate premises.
“He was insisting that nobody could be arrested inside the Senate. He was requesting that he be brought out of the Senate first,” Remulla said.
“But there is no such law which prevents us from arresting anyone in the Senate. There’s no more hiding behind the curtains of the Senate,” he added.
Despite the situation, Remulla said Estrada and the other accused cooperated fully with authorities, adding that police would continue to implement court orders without bias or favoritism.
