MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the Office of the Ombudsman’s findings that found probable cause to charge former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada over the multi-billion pork barrel scam case.
“The Court upheld the Ombudsman's finding of probable cause against petitioner Estrada,” SC spokesperson Theodore Te said. The voting was 6-4.
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Four justices, meanwhile, took no part in the ruling.
A copy of the decision has yet to be made public as of this story's posting.
Estrada is one of the three lawmakers, along with Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Juan Ponce Ernrile, accused of benefiting from the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.
The former senator elevated his case to the high court, urging the tribunal to nullify the ombudsman’s resolutions finding probable cause to charge him with plunder and graft, in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Last April, Estrada filed a nine-page “Second Supplement to the Petition for Certiorari” before the SC. Estrada maintained that he was a victim of the ombudsman's selective justice and “political persecution” for being a member of the opposition during the administration of then President Benigno Aquino III.
READ: Jinggoy again asks Supreme Court to dismiss 'pork' charges
Estrada was charged with plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly amassing P183-million worth of kickbacks by allocating portions of the PDAF to fictitious foundations.
While the anti-graft court has already denied Estrada’s plea to dismiss the case, it however allowed him to post bail in September after years of detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial in Camp Crame.
READ: Sandiganbayan affirms Jinggoy bail
The Fifth Division granted Estrada's prayer to post bail on the ground of the supposed lack of evidence from the prosecution showing that he is the “main plunderer” in the case. — Kristine Joy Patag