Authorities, led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, arrested Senator Jinggoy Estrada after the warrant for his plunder case was issued by Sandiganbayan on Monday afternoon.

Estrada was escorted by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano from the Senate in Pasay City to the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Also surrendered to CIDG on the same day was former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan who arrived in Camp Crame earlier than Estrada. Bonoan went to the Camp Crame hospital to monitor his condition, said Remulla.

It is the third time Estrada will be jailed. He was acquitted of two previous cases.

Before leaving the Senate, Estrada delivered his statement and revealed that he received an offer to leave the majority bloc in exchange for the dismissal of his charges.

"I am only making this public now: I was offered many times to abandon the independent majority bloc in exchange for dropping my case, but I did not accept it. My conviction to remain alongside my colleagues in the independent majority bloc prevailed. As for who they are, just stay tuned for the next chapter," he said.

"I will remain firmly with the majority bloc under the leadership of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.I will not be shaken by any pressure, intimidation, or political maneuvering to abandon my conviction. I will not yield to threats. I will not be intimidated. I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgment," he added.

Estrada also instructed the Senate Secretary to put his salary on hold and stressed that he will not seek Senate custody and noted that he is prepared to defend himself.

"This is my personal decision to show the Filipino people that I have no intention of benefiting from public funds while I clear my name," he said

"I am prepared to defend myself in court, and I will not hide behind this institution to avoid due process. I will defend myself until the very end to prove that the accusations against me have no basis," he added.

Remulla confirmed that aside from Estrada, Bonoan and three other accused have surrendered.

After the booking procedure, Estrada left Camp Crame to face his case before the fifth division of Sandiganbayan while Bonoan was placed under hospital arrest after his blood pressure spiked to 192 over 100.

"Hospital arrest but he is not yet indicted we will wait for his indictment," he said.

"It is our decision because his stroke is imminent at 192, so it is our decision to bring him there before he will be transported to Sandiganbayan," he added.

Last Friday, Estrada posted bail after the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his graft case.

Estrada is expected to be placed under the custody of Male Dormitory of Quezon City Jail in Payatas. Robina Asido/PHS