Jinggoy to remain at PNP Custodial Center

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has thumbed down the request of government prosecutors to transfer Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame to a detention cell at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

 

In a resolution, the anti-graft court's Fifth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Roland Jurado, ruled that Estrada must remain at his present detention facility citing the congested jail at Camp Bagong Diwa.

 

The tribunal also cited the security risk which entails the transfer of Estrada to a regular jail, as the facility is undermanned and could not guarantee security to the senator. 

 

"To hold the senator in the ... facilities would be in blatant disregard of the guaranteed rights of a detention prisoner," the resolution read.

 

Estrada is now facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. 

 

The Sandiganbayan's First Division previously denied the transfer of another legislator, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.,  also accused of pocketing commissions from priority development fund projects, to Camp Bagong Diwa.