Sandiganbayan again denies Jinggoy Estrada’s bid for bail

BJMP. Senator Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Sandiganbayan graft court in Quezon City on June 2, 2026, for the arraignment of his graft case.

Jire Carreon/Rappler

Estrada may still seek temporary liberty through a formal bail petition

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan upheld its resolution to deny Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s request for bail in his flood control-related case.

In a resolution dated Thursday, September 3, the court’s 5th Division junked Estrada’s motion for reconsideration, which appealed the court’s earlier resolution to deny the bail request.

“Accordingly, the court finds no cogent reason to disturb its earlier ruling. Until a hearing determines that the evidence of guilt is not strong, the court has no basis to set a bail amount. Consequently, the motion is denied,” the resolution penned by Associate Justice Gener Gito read.

“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Pimentel Ejercito Estrada’s Motion for Reconsideration dated August 3, 2026 is denied for lack of merit,” it added.

Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac concurred.

Estrada was charged with plunder and graft cases in May due to his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption.

The Sandiganbayan junked Estrada’s request in July because it had no legal basis and was filed prematurely. This denial, however, does not preclude Estrada from filing an actual bail petition before the Sandiganbayan, where the prosecution will try to establish that the evidence of his guilt is strong.

In its recent resolution, the Sandiganbayan did not give weight to Estrada’s claim that he is not a flight risk, explaining that “such circumstance does not authorize the court to dispense with the requisite bail proceedings and immediately fix bail.”

Estrada also used the Enrile doctrine, where the court granted former senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s request for bail due to humanitarian concerns.

“The [Enrile] ruling cannot reasonably be understood as establishing a general rule that an accused charged with an offense punishable by reclusion perpetua may obtain bail without the requisite determination of whether the evidence of guilt is strong merely upon showing that he is not a flight risk, possesses substantial social or political ties, or has previously complied with travel conditions imposed by this court,” it explained.

“The considerations concerning his alleged lack of flight risk do not dispense with the antecedent determination of whether the evidence of guilt is strong. Neither does Enrile, considering the exceptional factual circumstances underlying that ruling, authorize the court to circumvent the procedure regarding discretionary bail under the circumstances of this case,” it added. – Rappler.com