The Sandiganbayan has clarified that no arrest warrant has yet been issued against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and four other individuals in connection with a plunder case involving alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Econg explained that the issuance of a warrant is still pending because there are motions filed by Estrada that must first be resolved by the court.

One of these includes an urgent motion to withdraw the issuance of an arrest warrant, which was submitted by his legal team before the Sandiganbayan’s Second and Fifth Divisions.Econg noted that if these pending motions may affect the court’s actions, they must be addressed before any warrant can be properly issued.She emphasised that no final action has been taken yet by the Fifth Division regarding Estrada and his co-accused in that specific case docket.

However, it was also clarified that earlier in the day, the Second Division had already issued arrest warrants against Estrada and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan in a related graft case.Following the issuance, both individuals were able to post bail amounting to P90,000 each, allowing them temporary liberty while the case continues.

The Sandiganbayan chief further explained that in their division, warrants and hold departure orders were issued after deliberations on probable cause had already been conducted before the filing of Estrada’s urgent motion.She stressed that court actions depend heavily on timing and procedural status of motions.

Plunder, being a non-bailable offense under Philippine law, typically results in detention once a warrant is issued, unless the accused successfully secures bail approval from the court.The case remains ongoing as the Sandiganbayan continues to evaluate the pending motions and determine the appropriate legal actions moving forward.