Sandiganbayan Denies Jinggoy Estrada's Plea to Fix Bail in Plunder Case

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its July 2026 decision denying Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s motion to fix bail in the P573-million plunder case he is facing over his alleged involvement in the flood control mess, citing lack of merit. In its September 3 resolution, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said Estrada’s appeal “failed to demonstrate any substantial error of fact or law.” “Accused Estrada’s motion for reconsideration places considerable emphasis on circumstances which, according to him, establish that he poses no risk of flight. He repetitively points to his incumbency as a Senator, his long tenure in public service, and his history of compliance with this court’s travel conditions. The court does not disregard these, but they do not answer the main issue presently confronting the court,” the Sandiganbayan said. “The constitutional query in a case involving an offense punishable by reclusion perpetua is not confined to whether the accused is likely to flee. It principally requires a judicial determination of whether the evidence of guilt is strong. An accused’s established ties to the community, public position, previous compliance with travel restrictions, or history of appearing before the courts cannot substitute for that determination,” it added. The anti-graft court noted that even assuming Estrada is not a flight risk, this circumstance is not sufficient for the court “to dispense with the requisite bail proceedings and immediately fix bail.” “Until a hearing determines that the evidence of guilt is not strong, the court has no basis to set a bail amount,” it said. Estrada has already filed a petition for bail before the Fifth Division. 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. Estrada refused to enter a plea in the plunder and graft cases on Thursday, prompting the Fifth Division to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. — VBL, GMA News