Jinggoy seeks to have plunder case thrown out

Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has decided to ask the Sandiganbayan’s permission to file a demurrer to evidence and move for the dismissal of his plunder case.

Estrada, who is seeking to return to the Senate in May’s midterm elections, filed a motion for leave of court on Feb. 22 in the court’s Fifth Division.

A demurrer to evidence asks the court to determine whether the prosecution has presented enough evidence to move forward with the case. A granted demurrer dismisses the case.

In his 11-page motion, Estrada said that the prosecution had not been able to prove that it had a strong case against him.

“Senator Estrada begs leave of this honorable court to file a demurrer to evidence and to move for the dismissal of the indictment against him for failure of the prosecution to prove the charge in the information with evidence showing guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” his motion read.

Estrada faces plunder charges for allegedly funneling P183 million of his pork barrel fund to nongovernment organizations controlled by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for kickbacks. —PATRICIA DENISE M. CHIU