Sandiganbayan upholds ruling clearing Jinggoy of bribery charges

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada during the weekly Kapihan sa Senado forum on June 4, 2024. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan upheld its decision to clear Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery in connection with the pork barrel scam.

In a resolution dated November 27, the anti-graft court’s special fifth division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the prosecution to revert the conviction verdict against Estrada, as well as the senator’s preemptory challenge and motion to expunge.

READ: Sandiganbayan reverses Jinggoy Estrada’s bribery conviction

“We agree with Estrada insofar as his acquittal can no longer be assailed by the prosecution as this would put him twice in jeopardy,” the resolution reads.

“Accordingly, the Resolution dated August 22, 2024, hereby STANDS,” the earlier part of the document states.

Last August 22,  the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division reversed its decision convicting Estrada of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery.

The court granted Estrada’s motion for reconsideration, which seeks to reverse his conviction.

To recall, Estrada and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles were acquitted of plunder last Jan. 19.

In the same resolution, the court “partially reconsiders” the conviction of Napoles for one count of corruption of public officials in relation to one count of direct bribery against Estrada, which was already reversed.

However, the court upheld her conviction for four counts of corruption of public officials, which violates Article 212 concerning Article 210, paragraph 2, of the Revised Penal Code.

The plunder case against the two and others stemmed from transferring Estrada’s Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, to bogus non-government organizations owned by Napoles.

Estrada was charged with plunder for allegedly receiving kickbacks worth P55.79 million from Napoles.

The prosecution accused him of accumulating ill-gotten wealth after he allegedly gained P55.79 million from the scheme, aside from being “an active participant in the conspiracy to commit plunder.”