The legal team of Senator Jinggoy Estrada has pulled back its request seeking court permission for him to participate in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, after realizing the petition was submitted to the wrong division of the anti-graft court.
The Sandiganbayan Second Division confirmed the retraction, explaining that Estrada’s lawyers had inadvertently sent the motion to them instead of the Fifth Division.
The Fifth Division is currently handling Estrada’s non-bailable plunder case involving ₱573 million. Meanwhile, the Second Division is overseeing a separate graft case against the lawmaker regarding alleged irregularities in flood control infrastructure.
According to the Second Division’s official notice, Estrada was:
“withdrawing his earlier motion to be allowed to attend the Senate Impeachment trial as it was meant for the Fifth Division, and mistakenly filed with the Second Division.”
Acknowledging the correction, the court formalized the retraction, stating:
“Finding the withdrawal to be in order, the motion to allow his attendance in the impeachment trial is hereby deemed WITHDRAWN.”
Following the pullout, the court nullified its previous order that required state prosecutors to submit a formal response to Estrada’s initial request.
“Accordingly, the directive under this Court’s Order dated June 30, 2026 requiring the plaintiff to file its comment within five (5) days is hereby RECALLED and rendered moot and academic,” the court noted.
The senator remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas following his June 1 arrest.
The charges stem from allegations of plunder involving illegal budget insertions and over ₱573 million in kickbacks tied to public works and flood control projects under the 2025 national budget.