Sandiganbayan resets hearing on Jinggoy’s motion for reconsideration
MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has rescheduled the hearing of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s motion for reconsideration on his rejected demurrer to evidence as the prosecution asked to file a comment.
During the scheduled hearing on Monday which was eventually canceled, the prosecution was given five days to reply.
State prosecutors have already reacted to the initial motion for reconsideration, but are seeking to file another comment because they received the supplemental motion from Estrada’s camp only last Thursday.
The next hearing date was tentatively set on August 5.
Estrada was charged with plunder after being accused of receiving kickbacks worth P55.79 million for allocating a portion of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations (NGO) handled by co-accused Janet Lim-Napoles.
Last June 13, the anti-graft court denied Estrada’s demurrer to evidence on the grounds that he allegedly gave the nod in transferring the PDAF to Napoles’ NGOs.
Article continues after this advertisementHad the court granted Estrada’s demurrer, the plunder case he is facing would have been dismissed.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy’s plea to dismiss plunder case
This came after the Sandiganbayan allowed both Estrada and Napoles to contest the plunder raps against them.
READ: Sandiganbayan: Jinggoy, Napoles can seek outright dismissal of plunder raps
Napoles is currently detained at the Correctional Institute for Women after being found guilty in another plunder case involving Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla.
Revilla, Estrada, and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile were charged over the pork barrel scandal.
Revilla was eventually acquitted, while Estrada and Enrile are out on bail. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)
