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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Opps!: Jinggoy camp withdraws impeachment trial motion after filing with wrong Sandigan division

Opps!: Jinggoy camp withdraws impeachment trial motion after filing with wrong Sandigan division

Published Jul 9, 2026 08:40 pm

At A Glance

  • The Sandiganbayan Second Division said Estrada, through his lawyer, informed the court that he was withdrawing his earlier motion because it was intended for the Fifth Division, where he is facing a non-bailable P573 million plunder case, but was erroneously filed with the Second Division.
(MARK BALMORESMB FILE PHOTO)
(MARK BALMORESMB FILE PHOTO)
The camp of Senator Jinggoy Estrada withdrew its motion seeking permission for him to attend the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after mistakenly filing it before the wrong division of the Sandiganbayan.
The Sandiganbayan Second Division said Estrada, through his lawyer, informed the court that he was withdrawing his earlier motion because it was intended for the Fifth Division, where he is facing a non-bailable P573 million plunder case, but was erroneously filed with the Second Division.
Per the Second Division, the manifestation informed the court that 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.”
“Finding the withdrawal to be in order, the motion to allow his attendance in the impeachment trial is hereby deemed WITHDRAWN,” the anti-graft court said.
(SANTI SAN JUANMB FILE PHOTOS)
(SANTI SAN JUANMB FILE PHOTOS)
As such, Sandiganbayan recalled its earlier directive requiring the prosecution to comment on the motion.
“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.”
Estrada is facing a graft case before the Sandiganbayan Second Division in connection with alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
(SANTI SAN JUANMB FILE PHOTOS)
(SANTI SAN JUANMB FILE PHOTOS)
Meantime, his plunder case, where he earlier sought permission to attend the impeachment proceedings, is pending before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division. It was for this case that the motion should have been filed.
Currently, Estrada is detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
On June 1, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division issued warrants of arrest against Estrada and his four co-accused in the plunder case filed over alleged illegal budget insertions and more than P573 million in purported kickbacks linked to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure and flood-control projects under the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Related Tags

Jinggoy Estrada Sandiganbayan impeachment trial Sara Duterte plunder case Senate legal motion
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