FILE PHOTO: Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada during the August 8, 2023 Senate plenary. In the interview on Friday, January 19, 2024, Atty. Alexis Suarez said his client, Estrada, will not go to jail despite being convicted of bribery by the anti-graft court in connection with a plunder case over the pork barrel scam because the offenses are available, and the case is still appealable. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Estrada will not go to jail despite being convicted of bribery by the anti-graft court in connection with a plunder case over the pork barrel scam, his lawyer said Friday.
According to Atty. Alexis Suarez, direct bribery and indirect bribery offenses are bailable – hence, his client can still report for work at the Senate and would be free from detention.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division cleared Estrada and his co-accused, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, of plunder but found the senator guilty of one direct and two indirect bribery.
The court sentenced Estrada to a jail term of eight years to nine years and four months for direct bribery and two years to three years for each count of indirect bribery.
It also penalized the senator with a special temporary disqualification from holding public office and perpetual absolute disqualification from exercising the right to suffrage, and asked him to pay a P3 million fine.
READ: Jinggoy Estrada to remain senator until Sandigan ruling is final – Zubiri
Suarez explained that his client can still avail of legal remedies to counter the anti-graft court’s decision. She said they would first file a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan, and if that fails, they would raise the case before the Supreme Court.
“Yes, it’s bailable and he has posted bond naman eh, and he has been showing to the court that he’s not a flight risk, ‘di ba,” the lawyer told reporters in an interview following the plunder case promulgation on Friday.
“It’s not yet final because we still have legal remedies to file [before] the court, and actually, we don’t really know why nag-bribery (it became bribery) because from the start, none of the witnesses kasi testified that he received any money or thing, so it cannot be – for us ah – it cannot [be] bribery kasi (because) if you did not receive any money or consideration, then there can be no bribery. So we will see,” she added.
READ: Jinggoy Estrada acquitted of plunder, convicted of bribery
Suarez further explained that his client would post no additional bond as the court opted to hold the previous bonds – P1.3 million for the plunder charge and P2 million for his travels – paid by Estrada.
“Hindi na, the court will hold on to his bond. He posted a bond of P1.3 million for plunder and a travel bond of P2 million, so the court said that they will hold on to the bond for his temporary liberty,” she noted.
According to the court, Estrada is sentenced to serve prison time of eight to nine years for the direct bribery conviction and two to three years for each count of indirect bribery. Napoles, meanwhile, was convicted of five counts of corruption of a public official and two additional counts for the same offense.
READ: Jinggoy Estrada says plunder case acquittal ‘a vindication of my name’
The plunder case against Estrada, Napoles, and others stemmed from transferring Estrada’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel to bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) owned by Napoles.
Estrada was charged with plunder in 2014 for allegedly receiving kickbacks worth P55.79 million from Napoles due to the scheme.