Jinggoy Estrada files bail petition for plunder charge

Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a petition for bail before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to secure temporary liberty amid a P573 million plunder charge filed against him in relation to his alleged involvement in the flood control mess. Estrada filed the petition for bail two days after the anti-graft court denied his motion to fix bail, which asks the court to set a bail amount for him, citing that such motion is premature pending the filing of the petition for bail. “There is no strong evidence that during the period of July of 2024 to March of 2025, accused Estrada, directly or indirectly, through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts, amassed, accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth or unjustly enriched himself in the amount of P573,750,000, or any amount for that matter,” Estrada’s motion read. “There is no strong evidence that accused Estrada willfully and unlawfully demanded, solicited, or received, directly or indirectly, from [then] DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, or the latter's aide, driver, or representative, any so called commitment, kickbacks, or commissions, whether in the amount of 25% of the total project budget of P360,000,000 o otherwise, either by reason of his position as Senator or in connection with any DPWH flood control or infrastructure project,” it added. Likewise, Estrada said the prosecution does not have evidence that he asked for the same favors from then Bulacan First District Engineering Office District Engineer Henry Alcantara. Estrada also argued that there is no evidence that he and accused 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.” “There is no strong evidence of any conspiracy to commit plunder or any other crime between accused Estrada and his co-accused Manuel Bonoan, Denryl Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, and Arturo Gonzales, Jr. Because the evidence of his guilt is not strong, accused Estrada should be admitted to bail,” it added. Earlier this week, the Sandiganbayan denied Senator Estrada's motion to fix bail saying that for a person charged with a capital offense, including plunder, bail is not a matter of right but is subject to the court's discretion. Estrada's motion to fix bail seeks to have the court set the amount of bail he may post to secure his temporary liberty. The Sandiganbayan noted, however, that this is different from an application for bail. The Sandiganbayan said it cannot fix the amount of bail unless Estrada first files the appropriate application for bail and, after the required hearing, the court determines that the evidence of guilt against him is not strong. Aside from the plunder charge, Estrada is also facing two counts of graft in connection with the alleged flood control corruption scandal—one before the Fifth Division and another before the Second Division. The cases marked the third time that plunder and other related charges were filed against Estrada in the last 25 years.