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JUST IN: Former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan will be placed under hospital arrest due to hypertension for an “indefinite” period of time here at Camp Crame after he is charged at the Sandiganbayan, DILG chief Jonvic Remulla says. | via @Dwight de Leon - Rappler
Senator Jinggoy Estrada arrives at Sandiganbayan following his booking procedures around 6 pm, on Monday, June 1, 2026. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler
Cayetano to Senate minority: Will you stand for independence? Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, June 1, questioned the minority’s stand on the Senate’s independence, just a few hours after the arrest of fellow senator and majority bloc member Jinggoy Estrada. “I am speaking truth that each senator already knows — the independence of this institution, and the legal standing of any of its members, are not currencies. The day they become things to be traded is the day that the Senate is diminished,” he wrote in a Facebook post. He added: “So I put one question to you, not as the majority but as the chamber: will you stand for the Senate’s independence?”
Ombudsman responds to Jinggoy: Let’s not mix accountability with politics
Responding to Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s claim that his plunder and graft cases are politically motivated, the Office of the Ombudsman said politics should never be mixed with accountability.
“Kung may mga taong nagtatangkang palabuin ang linya sa pagitan ng dalawang ito, dapat din silang panagutin. Walang sinumang pwedeng magdesisyon sa ngalan ng Ombudsman pagdating sa mga nakabinbing kaso, dahil ang paggawa nito ay maituturing ding isang uri ng korapsyon,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.
“Matagal nang iniimbestigahan ang mga kasong ito. Sa katunayan, isinasapubliko naman ang bawat hakbang ng proseso,” he added.
JUST IN. Senator Jinggoy Estrada heads to New Quezon City Jail where he will be detained for his plunder and graft cases.
He spent around 1 hour and 40 mins at the Sandiganbayan for his return of warrant and commitment order.
Jinggoy Estrada arrives at Sandiganbayan for arraignment Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in handcuffs, arrives at the Sandiganbayan at around 1:20 pm on Tuesday, June 2, for his arraignment. This is the stage of the proceedings where he will enter a guilty or not guilty plea. If pleaded not guilty, the trial continues. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler
UPDATES ON JINGGOY ESTRADA'S GRAFT CASE:
- Arraignment deferred to Thursday, June 4, due to Senator Jinggoy Estrada's pending motion to dismiss his case or reopen the investigation.
- The deferment was also partly because of former DPWH undersecretary Manuel Bonoan's health. His blood pressure was 160/90 when he attended the Tuesday conference.
- Estrada also asks the court if he can stop wearing BJMP detainee uniform and be free from handcuffs when attending hearings.
Sandiganbayan junks Zaldy Co’s co-accused bid to junk malversation case Division chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, with Associate Justice Kevin Narce Vivero and Lord Villanueva denied the former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Mimaropa officials’ motions for leave to file demurrer to evidence. “Accordingly, the Motions for Leave to File Demurrer to Evidence of accused Pacanan, Altea, Santos, Serrano, Calvo, Abagon, Tamayo, Cayco, and Casuno are denied for lack of merit. The schedule of hearings previously set for the presentation of defense evidence is maintained,” the 16-page resolution reads. Demurrer may be sought after the prosecution has finished its presentation of evidence, and is filed by accused if they think that the prosecution’s evidence against them is weak.
The Sandiganbayan 6th Division denies the motion filed by the co-accused of former Ako Bicol representative Zaldy Co to junk their malversation case in a decision made public on Tuesday, June 2.
Motion for leave is filed to ask permission to do an action, and in this case, it was lodged to ask the court if the accused may seek demurrer to evidence. The demurrer to evidence, if granted, has the power to junk the case against the accused and acquit them of the charge.
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Tindig Pilipinas coalition files an obstruction of justice complaint against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla, and Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca over Senator Bato dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate on May 14.
Dela Rosa is a suspect of a crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court.
JUST IN. The Sandiganbayan 7th Division junks ex-speaker Martin Romualdez's motion to lift his travel ban. Romualdez is facing complaints over his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption.
"Finally, the risk of flight cannot be disregarded. Rep. Romualdez has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind the flood control scam. Given the gravity of the allegations and the severe penalties that may result, including imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets," 7th Division chairperson Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna
"Rep. Romualdez clearly possesses sufficient motive and opportunity to evade the jurisdiction of the authorities should he be allowed to leave the country," she added. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler
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JUST IN. The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division denies Senator Jinggoy Estrada's bid to junk his graft case. The division denied his motion to quash information, and other related motions, in a resolution on Thursday, June 4. Estrada will now be subjected to arraignment, where the court will read him his information. He will also enter either a guilty or not guilty plea. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler
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JUST IN. Senator Jinggoy Estrada refuses to enter a plea during his arraignment for graft case on Thursday, June 4.
With this, the Sandiganbayan 2nd Division enters a not guilty plea on his behalf. This means that the trial will continue and the prosecution will present their evidence against the senator. | via @Jairo Bolledo-Rappler
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JUST IN. The Sandiganbayan 5th Division partially grants former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan's request for hospital arrest. Interior chief Jonvic Remulla says it's just temporary.
"It is a temporary measure given by the Sandigan. A formal medical diagnosis will be forwarded to the Sandiganbayan," Remulla tells Rappler.
Bonoan has been confined in the hospital since his arrest on June 1. As of yesterday, he is confined in a hospital in Pasig City and has undergone angiogram, according to his lawyer.
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Senate's quorum issue reaches the Supreme Court
High school teacher Barry Tayam files a petition with the Supreme Court on Friday, June 5, asking the High Court to declare the Senate's June 3 quorum valid, including the actions taken there.
The new majority bloc led by Senate president Win Gatchalian says their basis for reaching a quorum even with just 12 members was the Avelino v. Cuenco case of 1949. In the said decision, the SC declared the quorum of 12 legal because the available senators at the time was only 23.
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BREAKING: A Malolos City, Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued a warrant of arrest against contractor Curlee Discaya and fellow accused over their malversation case that stemmed from the flood control corruption. Malolos City RTC Branch 20 Presiding Judge Mirasol Dychingco ordered Discaya’s arrest and his fellow accused identified as: Merg Jaron Laus Brice Hernandez Jaypee Mendoza Ernesto Galang Norberto Santos Lorenzo Pagtalunan Juanito Mendoza Floralyn Simbulan Roma Angeline Rimando Cezarah Rowena Discaya
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case on after its investigators discovered that payments for a P53.9-million flood control project in Calumpit were released despite an unapproved disbursement voucher.
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