Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Monday, June 1 finally surrendered to authorities as he vowed not to yield to any threats seeking to undermine the leadership of newly-installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Speaking to the media before surrendering to officials of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), Estrada said he will remain firmly allied with Cayetano and the rest of the 13-man majority bloc.

“I will remain firmly with the majority bloc under the leadership of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. Hindi ako matitinag sa anumang panggigipit, pananakot, political maneuvering para talikuran ang paninindigan kong ito (I will not be swayed by any pressure, intimidation, or political maneuvering to abandon this stance of mine),” Estrada said in a press briefing at the Senate.

“I will not yield to threats. I will not be intimidated. I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgment,” he stressed.

No salary, no Senate custody

Estrada also announced his decision not to receive any salary while he is fighting his legal battle at the Sandiganbayan. 

The senator also said he rejected being placed under the Senate’s protective custody. 

“I am giving instructions to the Senate Secretary to put my salary on hold. Personal kong pasya ito upang ipakita sa sambayanang Pilipino na wala akong intensiyong makinabang sa pondo ng bayan habang nililinis ko ang aking pangalan (This is my personal decision to show the Filipino people I have no intention of benefitting from public funds while I am clearing my name),” he said.

“At higit sa lahat, hindi ako papasailalim sa kustodiya ng Senado (And most of all, I will not be under the Senate custody). I will not seek Senate custody. Hindi ko gagamitin ang Senado bilang panangga laban sa mga alegasyon sa akin (I will not use the Senate to shield myself from the allegations hurled against me),” the lawmaker stressed.

Nakahanda akong ipagtanggol ang aking sarili sa hukuman at hindi ako magtatago sa likod ng institusyong ito upang umiwas sa proseso. Ipagtatanggol ko hanggang sa huli ang aking sarili para patunayan na walang batayan ang mga paratang sa akin (I am prepared to defend myself in court and will not hide behind this institution to avoid the process. I will defend myself to the end to prove that the allegations against me are baseless),” he reiterated.

‘This is all nonsense’

At the same time, Estrada said that the accusations hurled against him in relation to the flood control scandal were all nonsense. 

He insisted that the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) itself told the Ombudsman that they do not have any documents or records showing that he made any insertion in the 2025 national budget. 

Estrada said this important information was even acknowledged by former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as significant evidence that contradicts the allegations leveled against him.

“So how can the Office of the Ombudsman file a plunder case against me when I am not even alleged to be part of, or the mastermind of, the supposed scheme? Wala akong kinalaman dyan (I have nothing to do with it),” he reiterated.

Cayetano, senators Rodante Marcoleta, Mark and Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos were present during his press briefing.

According to Estrada, he was offered so many times to abandon the new Senate majority bloc in exchange for the dismissal of his case but he refused to accept it.

“I was more determined to remain among my colleagues in the independent majority bloc,” Estrada said 

“Mas nanaig ang paninindigan ako na manatili sa hanay ng mga kasamahan ko sa independent majority bloc (I was more determined to remain among my colleagues in the independent majority bloc),” he pointed out.

“Kung sino sila, abangan n’yo na lang ang susunod na kabanata (To find out who they are, just stay tuned for the next chapter),” he said.

Estrada said he is adamant to stand his ground to ensure that the Senate remains independent. 

“I stand my ground because what is at stake here goes far beyond my personal circumstances. What is at stake is the independence of the Senate itself,” he said.

“This institution must never become vulnerable to external pressure. It must remain free from political coercion, free from undue influence, and free from any scheme designed to weaken its constitutional role as a co-equal and independent branch of government,” he stressed.

“If this is the price I must pay for the decisions I have made and the principles I have chosen to uphold, then I am prepared to face the consequences—however difficult they may be, especially for my family,” he reiterated.

“I will not be broken by accusations, nor will I yield to political pressure. I will meet these charges head-on, defend my honor through due process, and place my faith in the truth,” he also said.

Immediately after the press briefing, Estrada went with the arresting authorities from the PNP-CIDG who escorted him back to Camp Crame.