Sandiganbayan rejects Estrada's appeal to dismiss graft case, enters not-guilty plea for him
The Sandiganbayan Second Division rejected Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's appeal to dismiss the graft case filed against him and entered a not-guilty plea for him after he refused to plead.
Estrada, who attended his arraignment on June 4 via teleconference from the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, earlier submitted an omnibus motion to quash the graft charge against him. This single legal document contained several appeals, which, aside from the request to dismiss his case, included another to suspend the proceedings and remand the criminal information for reinvestigation.
After hearing arguments on the motion, Sandiganbayan Presiding Judge and Second Division Chair Geraldine Faith Econg ruled it lacked merit, per a The Philippine STAR report.
In the same session, Estrada was asked to enter a plea in his graft case, which the senator refused to do, saying he wanted "to remain silent." Econg then entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. This is an automatic move by a court after an accused refuses to plead.
Estrada's virtual attendance in the proceedings was approved by the court after his lawyers explained the senator was suffering from osteoarthritis. During the session, Estrada asked to be excused so he could address the pain brought about by his condition. Econg excused him but ordered Estrada to remain in the teleconference. He assured her, saying, "Tatayo-tayo na lang po ako."
The Sandiganbayan Second Division issued arrest warrants against Estrada and former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan on May 29 for graft. Both posted P90,000 bail each on the same day.
Both Estrada and Bonoan are accused of arranging to receive commitment fees from contractors of flood control projects. Estrada supposedly sought up to P855 million in funding from flood control projects in Bulacan, with commitment fees placed at P213.7 million—a claim he repeatedly denied.
On June 1, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division issued an arrest warrant against Estrada for a non-bailable plunder charge connected to his alleged receipt of P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects. Hours later, Estrada surrendered to the Philippine National Police and has been detained in the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since then.
Arrest warrants for the same charge were also issued against Bonoan, former DPWH district engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales Jr., and assistant district engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna for their alleged involvement in the sham flood control projects.
Bonoan surrendered to the PNP as well, but was brought to the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame soon after, per Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, due to hypertension. He was then transferred to a private hospital, but was unable to attend his arraignment due to health reasons.
