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Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano accompanies majority colleague Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Monday, June 1, 2026 as he was about to surrender to authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant over plunder charges in connection with the flood control scandal.
Philstar.com / Ian Laqui
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla challenged the Senate’s claim that it can shield senators from immediate arrest within its premises, arguing that the chamber lost that “privilege” when Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left to evade arrest.
Remulla made the remark after authorities moved to implement an arrest warrant for plunder against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at the Senate on Monday, June 1.
The interior chief said Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano had invoked the chamber’s protection from immediate arrest, citing separation of powers.
“Sabi niya even at the time of Salonga, he protected Enrile. Ang sabi ko sa kanya in a not very calm voice kasi umakyat na, ‘Sir, I’m sorry. You lost that privilege when Bato escaped,’” Remulla said.
(He said that even during the time of Salonga, he protected Enrile. What I told him, in a not very calm voice because my temper had already flared up, was: “Sir, I’m sorry. You lost that privilege when Bato escaped.”)
Before Remulla faced the media, a video circulated showing him and Cayetano arguing over Estrada’s arrest.
Remulla also said he had a brief altercation with Estrada’s daughter.
“There was a slight altercation between me and the daughter. She gave me the dirty finger and cursed at me. I said, ‘It’s okay. I understand your emotion,’” Remulla said.
Senate protection questioned
Cayetano had earlier placed Dela Rosa under Senate protective custody. Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity over killings linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war.
On May 13, Justice Secretary Frederrick Vida ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to stand down while the Supreme Court had yet to rule on Dela Rosa’s petition challenging the Philippine government’s cooperation with the ICC.
Dela Rosa later left the Senate premises after the May 13 shooting incident. He was accompanied by Sen. Robin Padilla.
In Estrada’s case, Cayetano accompanied the senator, who is facing graft and plunder charges, to his press conference along with other members of the Senate majority bloc.
In a statement after failing to convene the session on Monday, Cayetano urged the public to “let the Senate go quiet.”
“I am asking you to join one deliberate act — to let the Senate go quiet, together and by choice, so the country is made to ask why a co-equal branch would fall silent rather than be made to serve,” Cayetano said.
