Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla engaged in a tense exchange after personnel from the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) served an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada inside the Senate over plunder charges.
Videos circulating online showed Cayetano and Remulla in a heated discussion inside the Senate chamber as CIDG officers informed Estrada of his constitutional rights and formally served the warrant.
Cayetano argued that authorities could have allowed Estrada to leave the Senate premises before carrying out the arrest, citing what he described as a longstanding practice of respecting the institution.
“Respect the institution. This is not about Jinggoy,” Cayetano said.
The Senate President also recalled a precedent involving former Senate President Jovito Salonga and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was facing rebellion charges during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.
“(Estrada) can be arrested right there. Just outside the gate, we’re gonna walk (for) five minutes. It’s never been done. Salonga stood up for Enrile. Ang kalaban si Cory, ang kaso rebellion. Anong ginawa? They walked out,” Cayetano said.
“We’re just asking you to walk out. You can arrest him outside,” he added.
Remulla, however, rejected the proposal, citing the previous case involving Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
“The last person you took into custody escaped. You cannot do that,” Remulla replied during the exchange.
Estrada later told reporters that he would voluntarily surrender to the CIDG following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division in connection with plunder charges.
However, Remulla maintained that Estrada had already been placed under arrest once the warrant was served.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Remulla said the disagreement stemmed from Cayetano’s appeal to preserve the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.
“The question was the separation of the executive and legislative branches. He said that even during the time of Salonga, he protected Enrile. I told him—not very calmly, because emotions were already rising—‘Sir, I’m sorry. You lost that privilege when Bato escaped,’” Remulla said.
“Tama na; there’s no more hiding behind the curtains of the Senate,” he added.
Remulla said authorities had already taken custody of Estrada following the service of the warrant.
“We arrested him. I personally went there together with the CIDG. He was read his Miranda rights and, from there, he was brought to Camp Crame for processing,” he said.
