SC affirms filing of plunder case against Jinggoy Estrada
MANILA, Philippines–The Supreme Court affirmed the Ombudsman’s decision to charge Senator Jinggoy Estrada with plunder and 11 counts of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund known as pork barrel.
Theodore Te, the Supreme Court public information chief, said the high court voted 9-5 to dismiss Estrada’s motion for failure to substantiate the allegations in his petition.
The senator, in his petition, said his right to due process was violated when the Ombudsman filed the case against him.
The Ombudsman, on April 1, 2014, approved the filing of plunder and graft charges against Estrada and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., as well as alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, in the Sandiganbayan.
Revilla allegedly received kickbacks amounting to P224.5 million; Enrile, P172.8 million, and Estrada, P183.79 million.
Those who voted to dismiss Estrada’s petition are Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio who wrote the decision, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Mariano del Castillo, Martin Villarama, Jose Perez, Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen.
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