Sandigan affirms Jinggoy’s bail

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld its ruling allowing former senator Jinggoy Estrada to post bail for a plunder case in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

In a four-page resolution obtained by the media yesterday, the anti-graft court said the Office of the Ombudsman failed to raise new arguments that could warrant the reversal of the ruling granting bail to Estrada.

The court said the ombudsman’s failure to present evidence showing Estrada as the “main plunderer” was sufficient ground to grant provisional liberty to the former senator.

The same associate justices — Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Reynaldo Cruz and Lorifel Pahimna — who voted to uphold Estrada’s bail in September affirmed the ruling.

Sandiganbayan Special Fifth Division chairman Associate Rafael Lagos and Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses maintained their dissent. 

Estrada was released from detention after posting P1.33-million bail for one count of plunder and 11 counts of graft on Sept. 16.