Ombudsman to file plunder, malversation raps vs Jinggoy Estrada over flood control mess
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:25 p.m.) — The Office of the Ombudsman is set to file plunder and malversation charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, May 26, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the charges against the lawmaker will be filed at the Sandiganbayan on Thursday.
“Hopefully, we will file it first thing in the morning by Thursday,” Remulla said.
He said that he is set to sign the case information against Estrada later today.
Remulla added that the case is related to a multi-million peso flood control project, which is allegedly anomalous.
Once filed, he will be the third lawmaker charged in relation to the flood control scandal, followed by former senator Bong Revilla and former lawmaker Zaldy Co.
On May 25, Estrada was appointed as vice chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. He is a co-chairperson alongside Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, whom the Ombudsman also seeks a precautionary hold departure order due to alleged plunder and indirect bribery.
The committee assigned to Estrada is tasked with investigating alleged wrongdoings of the government, its officials, and its attached agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, in aid of legislation—the primary purpose of which is to propose new laws or amendments to existing laws.
It could be recalled that Estrada was once imprisoned after being charged with plunder over the pork barrel scam.
Estrada is the second senator to be acquitted in the pork barrel scam, following the acquittal of Revilla in July 2021.
However, the Sandiganbayan found him guilty in 2024 of one count of bribery and two counts of indirect bribery for allegedly pocketing P183 million in kickbacks from ghost projects masterminded by Janet Lim Napoles.
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