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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sen Jinggoy Estrada starts presenting evidence in 11 graft cases at Sandiganbayan

Sen Jinggoy Estrada starts presenting evidence in 11 graft cases at Sandiganbayan

Published Oct 2, 2025 04:19 pm
Senator Jose "Jinggoy" P. Estrada started on Thursday, Oct. 2, presenting his defense evidence on the 11 counts of graft charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan on the alleged misuse of his P183.7 million priority development assistance fund (PDAF) in 2004.
The presentation of evidence was done by Estrada’s legal counsel.
Estrada’s presentation of evidence was ordered after the anti-graft court junked his motion to reconsider the denial of his petition for demurrer to evidence.
The court denied Estrada’s demurrer to evidence (a plea to dismiss the charges based on alleged weakness of the prosecution’s evidence to sustain a conviction) last March 26. He filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied.
In his motion for reconsideration, Estrada said the anti-graft court ignored the "factual and legal findings" in his plunder case, in which he has already been found not guilty.
He also said there is no proof that he knew of the supposed criminal scheme, and that he actually met and conferred with any of the other accused regarding the PDAF projects.
In denying the motion, the court clarified that the findings and conclusions in the plunder case do not automatically warrant the dismissal of the graft cases.
Contrary to what Estrada said, the court believes that the prosecution has adduced competent and sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against him to support a verdict of guilt.
"Indeed, to the court's mind, the frequency and recurrence of his above actions, along with the totality of the evidence adduced by the prosecution and extant in the record, undoubtedly establishes a prima facie case to sustain a verdict of guilt against him at this point of the trial," the court said.
"With the denial of his demurrer to evidence and the instant motion for reconsideration, accused Estrada is now given the chance to rebut the pieces of evidence and the prima facie case built by the prosecution against him," it added.
The 22-page resolution was signed by Associate Justices Zaldy V. Trespeses, Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega.
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