Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed a petition for bail before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, seeking temporary liberty amid a plunder charge linked to the alleged flood control kickback scheme.
Estrada is asking the anti-graft court to grant him bail, arguing that “the evidence of his guilt is not strong.”
This comes days after the Sandiganbayan denied his motion to fix bail, saying the request was premature because he had yet to file a formal petition for bail.
In a seven-page petition, Estrada maintained that there is no strong evidence that he amassed, accumulated, or acquired ill-gotten wealth amounting to P573.75 million between July 2024 and March 2025.
“There is no strong evidence that during the period of July of 2024 to March of 2025, accused Estrada, directly or indirectly, through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts, amassed, accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth or unjustly enriched himself in the amount of P573,750,000, or any amount for that matter,” the petition read.
Estrada also denied receiving kickbacks or commissions from officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with flood control or infrastructure projects.
“There is no strong evidence that accused Estrada willfully and unlawfully demanded, solicited, or received, directly or indirectly, from DPWH Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, or the latter's aide, driver, or representative, or from District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, any so called ‘commitment,’ kickbacks, or commissions,” his petition said.
The senator likewise argued that there is no strong evidence that he and his co-accused, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, facilitated or caused the inclusion of DPWH infrastructure or flood control projects in the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), General Appropriations Bill (GAB), bicameral conference committee report, or General Appropriations Act (GAA).
He further maintained that there is "no strong evidence of conspiracy" between him and his co-accused Bonoan, Denryl Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, and Arturo Gonzales Jr. to commit plunder or any other crime.
The graft case stemmed from the alleged receipt of a 25% kickback involving P855 million worth of flood control projects in Bulacan.
Estrada is also facing a separate, non-bailable plunder case involving an alleged P573.75 million in kickbacks linked to projects in Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, and Bulacan.
The Sandiganbayan earlier ordered Estrada’s 90-day preventive suspension from the Senate, which was implemented on June 22 under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Estrada is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.
However, the senator has repeatedly denied the accusations.
The latest case marks the third time in the past 25 years that plunder and related charges have been filed against Estrada.
