Senators stand by Estrada following Sandiganbayan’s decision on plunder, bribery cases

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — Some members of the Senate have expressed their support for Senator Jinggoy Estrada after the Sandiganbayan acquitted him of plunder, but convicted him of bribery in the multimillion-peso pork barrel 

In separate statements, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said they respect the decision of the court on their fellow lawmaker’s cases.

Both also emphasized Estrada’s right to implement all remedies available to him, which includes filing a motion for reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan or an appeal by certiorari with the Supreme Court, Zubiri said.

“It is not yet final and executory,” Villanueva said. “Thus, he can continue to fulfill his duties as a duly elected Senator of the Republic.”

READ: Will Estrada be removed from office? Lawyer says disqualification penalty 

Estrada’s brother, Senator JV Ejercito, urged the public to respect “the wisdom and fairness of our justice system.”

“I am sure that his legal team will exhaust all legal remedies on those cases he was convicted for,” Ejercito said. “I wish him well and will continue to pray for Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his family.”

Meanwhile, former Senator Leila de Lima said she wanted to know how the Sadiganbayan reached such a decision, specifically on plunder, as she believed there was a strong case against Estrada.

“This was buttressed by the statements of the middlewoman Ruby Tuason who said she dealt directly with the Senator and [Janet Lim] Napoles insofar as his PDAF funds were concerned,” De Lima pointed out. “Even Benhur Luy stated he personally delivered Jinggoy’s kickbacks to his secretary, Pauline Labayen, who had since then gone missing.”

Still, she welcomed Estrada’s conviction for direct and indirect bribery.

If he appeals this conviction, De Lima said there is a possibility that the Supreme Court will modify the judgment to either an acquittal, or a plunder conviction.

“Because once they appeal to the SC, the SB judgment is opened wide for modifications, including a conviction for plunder, without violating the rule on double jeopardy,” she noted.