The Sandiganbayan Second Division automatically entered a “not guilty” plea for Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday after he refused to enter a plea himself during his arraignment.
The anti-graft court proceeded with the formal reading of charges following its denial of two separate motions filed by Estrada. The lawmaker had previously sought to dismiss the case entirely and requested that the complaint be sent back to the Office of the Ombudsman for further investigation.
Estrada is facing graft charges alongside several current and former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The allegations stem from their supposed involvement in anomalous flood control infrastructure projects.
Among the co-accused named in the case is former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan. Both Estrada and Bonoan have already secured their temporary liberty after posting bail of ₱90,000 each.
This is the latest in a series of legal battles for Estrada, whose political career over the last two decades has been repeatedly marred by high-profile allegations of plunder, graft, and bribery.
Estrada is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail. He shares the facility with former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is also implicated in the ongoing investigation into the infrastructure project irregularities.