[Updated May 29, 206, 2:29 p.m.]
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan 2nd Division on Friday issued a warrant of arrest against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan in connection with their graft case.
This move was revealed by an Inquirer source.
Aside from the arrest warrant, a hold departure order was also issued against Estrada and Bonoan, the 2nd Division clerk of court later confirmed.
The clerk of court said Estrada and Bonoan could post P90,000 bail each for their graft case.
The warrant came after the Office of the Ombudsman formally charged Estrada with graft, as well as plunder, a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment.
The anti-graft body filed the case weeks after receiving the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
READ: Jinggoy Estrada on his upcoming plunder case: ‘So be it’
The DOJ earlier recommended the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges against Estrada and several former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over alleged anomalies in government flood control projects.
During the House committee on public works and highways hearing in September last year, former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez alleged that Estrada facilitated the allocation of P355 million through budget insertions for Bulacan’s first district in exchange for a 30-percent commission.
Estrada denied the allegation and downplayed the Ombudsman’s announcement regarding the complaint.
READ: DOJ recommends plunder raps vs Estrada – Ombudsman
“Well, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing on my own principles and what I believe in? So be it,” Estrada told reporters on Tuesday.
The senator also cited findings of the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, which he said showed he had no budget insertions.
READ: Sandiganbayan ruling keeps Jinggoy Estrada graft case alive
Estrada is also facing 11 counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan despite his acquittal in a separate plunder case last year.
Estrada and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles were acquitted of plunder over the alleged misuse of P200 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
However, the anti-graft court denied his motion to dismiss the graft charges arising from the same case for lack of merit.
Estrada was also previously convicted of one count each of direct and indirect bribery for allegedly receiving P6.7 million in kickbacks tied to the misuse of his PDAF, but the Sandiganbayan reversed the ruling in August. /cb /dm /das /atm