Jinggoy Estrada upset with denial of Revilla bail plea

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 10 years ago

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. POOL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday expressed worry that the Sandiganbayan decision junking the bail plea of his coaccused Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. would have an adverse effect on his request for temporary liberty.

“Ako ay nangangamba na magkakaroon ng adverse effect ang bail hearing ko dito sa fifth division … Hindi ko matatanggal sa aking isipan ‘yan,” Estrada said after his bail hearing.

(I’m worried that it will have an adverse effect on my bail hearing in the fifth division. I can’t take that off my mind.)

But Estrada said he remained confident as the prosecution had not presented compelling evidence against him in the plunder charge over the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) known as the pork barrel scam.

“Ako’y naninniwala naman at may kumpiyansa na malakas ang aking argumento at hanggang ngayon, limang buwan na akong nakakulong, ay wala pa ring naipresentang malakas na ebidensya,” Estrada said.

(I have confidence that my argument is strong and until now, in my five months in detention, the prosecution hasn’t presented strong evidence.)

Estrada sympathized with his friend and coaccused, Senator Revilla, for the denial of his bail petition.

“Ako’y naniniwala na malinis ang konsyensya ni Senator Bong Revilla. Alam ko maganda ang kanyang argumento sa Sandiganbayan,” Estrada said.

(I believe Senator Revilla’s conscience is clear. I know he made a sound argument in the Sandiganbayan.)

After almost four months of hearings, the Sandiganbayan first division on Tuesday denied the bail motions of Revilla, accused pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, and alleged bagman Richard Cambe.

The court, however, said the junking of the bail pleas should not be regarded as a prejudgment of the merits of the case, which will be determined only after a full blown trial.

Revilla and Estrada are detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center with Cambe, Revilla’s legislative officer. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, another accused, meanwhile is under hospital detention. Napoles is locked up at the Camp Bagong Diwa female ward.