The Sandiganbayan 5th Division has denied Senator Jinggoy Estrada's motion for bail in his plunder case linked to alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.
In a ruling dated July 24 and released on July 28, Associate Justice Gener Gito stated that the motion lacked legal basis and was filed prematurely. Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Maryann Corpus-Mañalac concurred.
The court noted that Estrada may file a proper bail petition later, allowing the prosecution to present evidence. This marks Estrada's third set of plunder charges; he was previously acquitted in cases tied to the jueteng scandal and the pork barrel scam.
Estrada faces one count of plunder and two counts of graft over projects from 2024 to 2025. The decision follows earlier court actions, including the denial of his request to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
