MANILA - Senator Joseph Victor ''JV'' Ejercito on Thursday posted P30,000 bail for his graft case involving the use of P2.1 million from San Juan City's calamity funds to purchase high-powered firearms.

The Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division earlier ordered the arrest of Ejercito and five others for their graft cases.

Speaking to reporters at the Sandiganbayan, Ejercito said he would not put his name at stake for a relatively small amount. He also accused the Zamora family, the Ejercitos' rival in San Juan City, of being behind the case.

"I would not destroy my name for a P2-million transaction. I acted on the call for it, the situation, as mayor at that time. The peace and order was really bad, yun lang. Kung gusto nilang makulong dahil prinoteksyunan ko ang aking constituents, then so be it. [I would not destroy my name for a P2-million transaction. I acted on the call for it, the situation, as mayor at that time. The peace and order was really bad, yun lang. If they want to put me in jail because I protected my constituents, then so be it]," Ejercito said.

Sen. JV Ejercito arrives at Sandiganbayan to post bail in his case over alleged unlawful diversion of calamity funds pic.twitter.com/1fs2igl9Uq

— Carolyn Bonquin (@carolyn_bonquin) April 7, 2016

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division's resolution states it found sufficient grounds to issue a warrant of arrest after "carefully assessing" the resolution filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The anti-graft court also clarified that the arrest warrant was issued prior to the senator's motion asking for determination of probable cause.

The arrest warrant was penned on April 4, and was set to be served on April 5, the same day that Ejercito's motion was filed.

Ejercito is set to be arraigned for his graft charge on April 18.

The case stems from the purchase of 20 high-powered firearms from HK Technical Defense System Inc. using San Juan City's calamity funds when Ejercito was mayor in 2008. The purchase included three units of Daewoo K2 caliber 5.56mm sub-machine guns and 17 units of Daewoo model K1 cal. 5.56mm sub-machines guns.

READ: Ombudsman files graft raps vs JV Ejercito over firearms purchase

Aside from Ejercito, the former members of the Bids and Awards Committee who entered into the contract are also facing graft charges. They are city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, treasurer Rosalinda Marasigan, city legal officer Romualdo Delos Santos, budget officer Lorenza Ching, and city engineer Danilo Mercado.

Ejercito was also charged with illegal use of public funds, along with 14 other individuals, in the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division over the same case.

The senator did not post bail on his illegal use of public funds case, pending resolution of his motion to determine if there are sufficient grounds for probable cause.

The respondents in both cases have also been barred from traveling abroad.

Ejercito accused the Zamora clan of manipulating the councilors to press the charges against him. This is despite the fact that Vice Mayor Francis Zamora is also a defendant on the case before the Sixth Division.

The Zamora family, the Ejercitos' erstwhile political ally, is now a rival in the May elections. Mayor Guia Gomez is running against Vice Mayor Francis Zamora for mayor.

"In 2013, nung magkakampi pa kami dito, ipinatawag ng mag-ama ang mga konsehal na involved dito. Madali lang naman yan eh, ituro niyo si JV na ipasa ang ordinansa. [When we were still allies in 2013, Ronnie and Francis Zamora told the councilors involved in this case to say that I forced them to sign the ordinance.]," Ejercito said.

Ejercito insisted that he only acted on what he thought was needed by the city.