The Sandiganbayan has ordered the suspension of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada amid ongoing graft charges related to anomalous flood control projects and kickbacks.
Preventive Suspension Issued
The Sandiganbayan Second Division, which handles the graft complaints against Estrada, issued a 90-day preventive suspension on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Estrada was arrested on June 1 and is detained at the Quezon City jail in Payatas under orders from the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, which is handling plunder charges against him.
Details of the Charges
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the charges filed against Estrada and his co-respondents—including former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former DPWH Engineers Denryl Cortuna, Arturo Gonzales Jr., and Manny Bulosan—stem from an “intricate mechanism, illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations within the DPWH infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025.”
Estrada allegedly received P573 million worth of kickbacks after funneling funds into designated infrastructure projects through budget insertions.
Historical Context
Estrada is the first high-ranking government official detained over anomalous flood control projects. This marks his third time behind bars on corruption allegations.
