Jinggoy’s request vs donning handcuffs, BJMP shirt during hearings shows penchant for special treatment of the privileged in PH
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS RELEASE
4 June 2026
Reference: Danilo dela Fuente, SELDA Vice-Chairperson
Jinggoy’s request vs donning handcuffs, BJMP shirt during hearings shows penchant for special treatment of the privileged in PH
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s request not to be in handcuffs and to be exempted from wearing the BJMP uniform for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) when attending hearings for his graft case at the Sandiganbayan speak of the penchant for special treatment of the privileged in Philippine society, decried the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), an organization of former political prisoners.
Said SELDA vice chair Danilo dela Fuente, “If the Sandiganbayan grants Estrada’s request, it will be special treatment of the highest order. Political prisoners who do not deserve to spend a single minute in jail have had to endure the indignity of being seen in handcuffs and wearing the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) mandated uniform of canary yellow T-shirts and brown jogging pants for PDLs. What makes a person accused of graft and plunder so special as to merit exemption?”
Estrada faces graft charges related to the pork barrel scam dating back to 2014 as well as a P573-million graft and non-bailable plunder case in relation to anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan. Pursuant to an arrest warrant dated June 1, 2026 issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Estrada has been remanded to the New Quezon City Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City where his four other co-accused are also detained, including former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan.
“Estrada said that he would not be drawing his salary as senator and would not be seeking protective custody from the Senate in an effort to distance himself from Bato dela Rosa,” noted Dela Fuente, “but now he wants to distance himself from other detainees charged with common crimes.”
Dela Fuente said, “Long-time grafters and plunderers like Estrada do not deserve special treatment. What they do deserve,” fumed Dela Fuente, “are special places in hell.”
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