Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla figured in a tense exchange on Monday after members of the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) served an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada at the Senate over plunder charges.
In a video, Cayetano and Remulla were seen engaged in a heated discussion inside the Senate chamber while PNP-CIDG personnel read Estrada his Miranda rights.
“Respect the institution. This is not about Jinggoy,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano argued that Estrada could have been allowed to leave the Senate premises first and be arrested outside, citing a past precedent involving former Senate President Jovito Salonga and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.
“He 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, replied: “The last person you took into custody escaped. You cannot do that.”
Estrada later announced in a press conference that he would voluntarily surrender to the PNP-CIDG after the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued a warrant for his arrest over plunder charges.
Remulla, however, said in a media briefing that Estrada had already been arrested by authorities.
“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.
“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 added.—MCG, GMA News