In a landmark ruling, the Sandiganbayan has acquitted Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada of plunder charges in the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam masterminded by Janet Napoles. The graft court’s Fifth Division, in a 396-page ruling, found Estrada not guilty of pocketing P183 million through Napoles.
Alongside Estrada and Napoles, his former chief of staff, Pauline Therese Mary Labayen, and John Raymund de Asis, an aide of Napoles, were also named respondents. Estrada was accused of amassing the P183 million through different foundations created by Napoles between 2004 and 2012.
The court, however, failed to establish a conspiracy between Napoles and Estrada. Instead, it concluded that it was Napoles and Labayen who conspired to commit plunder. Consequently, Estrada was acquitted of the plunder charges.
Despite the acquittal, the court found Estrada guilty of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery. Direct bribery carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years and possible disqualification from public office. The court determined that Estrada received a payoff of P1 million, which was deposited in his bank account as part of the percentage cost of the project funded by his PDAF, constituting direct bribery.
Regarding the charge of indirect bribery, the court found that Estrada received P1.5 million from Napoles through Ruby Tuason, a businesswoman who acted as a liaison between Napoles and Estrada, former senator Juan Ponce Enrile, and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Upon learning of the Sandiganbayan’s ruling, Estrada expressed surprise at being found guilty of bribery. He stated, “I have been exonerated from plunder, and I will tell my lawyers to explore all remedies and legal options available to me.”
While Estrada faces legal consequences for bribery, Napoles, on the other hand, was acquitted of plunder charges but found guilty of seven counts of corruption. The court sentenced her to a minimum of 12 years in prison and ordered her to pay the government P262.03 million as civil liability.
The court also ordered the arrest of de Asis and Labayen, who are currently at large.
In response to the Sandiganbayan’s rulings on Estrada, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri emphasized the Senate’s respect for the decisions. Zubiri acknowledged that Estrada still has legal remedies available to him, including filing a Motion for Reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan or an appeal by certiorari with the Supreme Court. Until the decision becomes final and executory, Estrada is duty-bound to continue performing his functions as a Senator of the Republic.
Estrada’s lawyer, Alexis Abastillas Suarez, hailed the acquittal of the plunder charges as a significant victory. Suarez expressed his happiness, stating, “This is a very big victory for us because Sen. Jinggoy was acquitted of the charge of plunder, which he has been saying that he is innocent of.”
However, Suarez expressed confusion regarding the basis for accusing the senator of bribery, as it is not connected to the information on the crime of plunder. Despite this confusion, the defense team considers the acquittal from the crime of plunder a significant triumph.
Estrada’s younger brother, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, called for respect for the wisdom and fairness of the justice system. He emphasized that the justice system, despite its imperfections, exists to maintain law and order, protect rights, and provide justice.
In conclusion, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been acquitted of plunder charges in the PDAF scam, while being found guilty of bribery. The Sandiganbayan’s ruling highlights the complexity of the case and the need for further legal proceedings to determine the final outcome.
Source: The Manila Times
