SC junks Estrada bid to drop graft cases

Metro Manila, Philippines - Facing investigations for allegedly receiving kickbacks from flood control projects, Senator Jinggoy Estrada has failed to clear his pending graft cases in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Estrada has denied involvement in both kickback schemes.

In a press briefer on Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Supreme Court announced the dismissal of Estrada’s petition for review of his case, in which he argued that since the Sandiganbayan has acquitted him of plunder, his graft cases should be “deemed absorbed” by his plunder charges and, therefore, dismissed.

The senator’s plunder case stemmed from his alleged ill-gotten wealth amounting to ₱183.8 million, supposedly sourced from payoffs or commissions received from detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who allegedly funneled lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus non-government organizations. The SC has since declared the PDAF as unconstitutional.

Estrada’s pending graft cases, meanwhile, involved over ₱255 million in PDAF releases allegedly coursed through a number of foundations.

In its ruling, the court held that the absorption principle - where one offense merges into another - does not apply between graft and plunder, except in rare cases where the same public officer is both the giver and the recipient of the unwarranted benefit.

“The Decision effectively affirms that violations of Republic Act No. 3019 [Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act] may be prosecuted separately from plunder,” the briefer stated.

NewsWatch Plus has reached out to Estrada.

Also on Wednesday, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against Estrada and five other current and former government officials in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.