Jinggoy Estrada, Mike Defensor ask Sandiganbayan to grant them bail
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed a fresh petition for bail with the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to seek temporary liberty while he’s detained due to plunder.
“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada respectfully prays that the Honorable Court immediately admit him to bail in such amount as the Honorable Court may fix and order his release upon posting of the bail,” read the seven-page petition made public on Thursday, July 30.
On June 1, authorities arrested Estrada due to a non-bailable plunder charge and a set of graft cases that stemmed from the flood control controversy. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the senator is allegedly involved in the scheme where funds were deliberately assigned to specific public infrastructure projects in exchange for commission fees or kickbacks.
The investigative body said a total of P573 million “were systematically delivered to the principal respondent,” Estrada.
The senator has been detained in the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since June.
In his bail petition, Estrada argued that there’s no strong evidence proving that he allegedly committed the crime of plunder. Those accused in non-bailable cases may only be given temporary liberty if they prove that the evidence of guilt against them is not strong.
“There is no strong evidence that accused Estrada and accused (Manuel) Bonoan willfully and unlawfully facilitated, or otherwise caused, any DPWH infrastructure or flood control project to be included or inserted in the National Expenditure Program, the House General Appropriations Bill, the Bicameral Conference Committee Report and/or the General Appropriations Act, for fiscal year 2025,” said the petition.
Estrada is the highest sitting official to be arrested in connection with the flood control scandal.
On July 28, the Sandiganbayan 5th Division denied Estrada’s initial motion to fix bail for being premature.
Defensor’s case
In a different and unrelated case, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and his fellow accused also filed a petition for bail before the anti-graft court.
Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu are facing a plunder case, alongside Senator Rodante Marcoleta and Aristotle Viray, due to questions on Marcoleta’s campaign donations. The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against them on July 6, and they have been detained since then.
Like Estrada, Defensor and Espiritu argued that the evidence of their guilt is not strong so they should be granted bail.
“There is no strong evidence that either accused Defensor or Espiritu conspired with each other or with accused Marcoleta and/or Viray in order that accused Marcoleta may amass, accumulate, or acquire ill gotten wealth in the amount of P75 Million,” the petition read. – Rappler.com
