Senator Jinggoy Estrada has hit back at the Office of the Ombudsman after it filed plunder and graft charges against him before the Sandiganbayan, claiming the “lightning-fast” proceedings violated his right to due process and smacked of grave abuse of discretion.
Estrada argued that the anti-graft body and the Department of Justice (DOJ) rushed the filing, denying him the opportunity to thoroughly review the allegations and mount a proper legal defense.
“Hindi ako nabigyan ng pagkakataong makita at mapag-aralan nang maayos ang mga resolusyon ng DOJ at Ombudsman upang makapaghain ng kaukulang paliwanag o motion for reconsideration bago isinampa ang kaso sa Sandiganbayan,” the lawmaker stated. “Ang ganitong labis at hindi makatuwirang proseso ay may seryosong implikasyon sa aking right to due process.”
The senator’s remarks followed an announcement by Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano that Estrada, alongside former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and several others, had been formally charged. The case stems from alleged multi-million anomalies in flood control allocations.
The Sandiganbayan filing materialized just two days after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla confirmed that the anti-graft office had wrapped up its review of the DOJ’s May 18 indictment recommendation.
Estrada lamented that prosecutors ignored vital exculpatory evidence, including an official clearance from the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) proving he made no insertions in the 2025 national budget.
“Isa itong mahalagang ebidensya na tahasang pinapabulaanan ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa akin, subalit sadyang isinantabi,” Estrada added.
The veteran politician also raised eyebrows over political timing, suggesting a link between the rapid progression of cases against the Senate majority bloc and the chamber’s recent power shift.
“Kapansin-pansin din na, mula nang magpalit ng liderato sa Senado, naging mabilis ang pag-usad ng mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng ilang miyembro ng majority bloc,” Estrada pointed out.
Estrada was one of the 13 lawmakers who installed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate President, unseating Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who has since transitioned to Senate Minority Leader.
Unfazed by the high-profile indictment, Estrada stated that his legal team is already mapping out its next moves to expose procedural flaws and present the evidence that investigators allegedly brushed aside.
“Inihahanda ng aking mga abogado ang mga kaukulang hakbang upang maipakita ang mga iregularidad sa naging proseso, gayundin ang mga ebidensyang hindi nabigyan ng sapat na timbang at konsiderasyon,” he concluded.