Jinggoy declines to enter plea in graft, plunder cases

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday declined to enter a plea during his arraignment in the graft and plunder cases filed against him before the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division chair, Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, entered a plea of not guilty for the senator, who walked into the courtroom on crutches after suffering a tear on his left knee last week.

Estrada is accused of receiving P573.75 million in kickbacks for infrastructure and flood control projects in the National Capital Region, Bulacan and Occidental Mindoro under the 2025 national budget.

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READ: Sandiganbayan affirms junking of Jinggoy Estrada’s bail bid

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Before being arraigned, Estrada’s legal counsel, Laurence Arroyo, said his client waived the reading of the information against him.

Coaccused from DPWH

Arroyo also confirmed that the defense maintains the petition it filed on July 29 to allow Estrada to post bail for the plunder charge.

Plunder is a nonbailable case, but bail may be granted if the court finds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.

The preliminary conference for the case was set for Monday afternoon, Sept. 11.

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The senator is charged alongside former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers Manny Bulusan, Arturo Gonzales Jr. and Denryl Caesar Cortuna.

All accused were taken into government custody and committed to New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas on June 1.

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Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 4, but Estrada’s arraignment had been delayed due to several pending motions.

Briefly allowed to be interviewed by reporters after Thursday’s proceedings, Estrada said “I’m okay. According to my doctor, it’s up to me if I want the surgery on my left knee.”

Set up for surgery

Estrada’s left knee snapped while he was preparing for a checkup at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City last week.

His orthopedic doctor told reporters that he had recommended Estrada to undergo a surgery to treat the tear.

Estrada was previously charged alongside former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

However, on Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted a motion by state prosecutors to exclude Bonoan from the graft and plunder charges against him, Estrada, Bulusan, Gonzales and Cortuna.

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The Office of the Ombudsman has moved to turn him into a state witness in other cases related to the flood control corruption scandal. /das