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Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy Estrada's bid to attend VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Philippines
National
Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy Estrada's bid to attend VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Sandiganbayan denies Jinggoy Estrada's bid to attend VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial
By Jel Santos
Published Jul 10, 2026 11:49 am
At A Glance
- In a seven-page resolution promulgated on July 9, the anti-graft court found lack of merit in Estrada's motion, saying the request would effectively allow him to enjoy the privileges of his office despite being under preventive detention.
(MB FILE PHOTOS)
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has denied Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s bid to attend the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, ruling that his request to repeatedly leave detention to serve as a senator-judge would defeat the purpose of preventive detention.
In a seven-page resolution promulgated on July 9, the anti-graft court found lack of merit in Estrada’s motion, saying the request would effectively allow him to enjoy the privileges of his office despite being under preventive detention.
“Accordingly, the Motion to Allow Accused Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada to Attend the Senate Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio dated June 29, 2026 of accused Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ P. Ejercito Estrada is DENIED for lack of merit,” the court stated.
Estrada had argued that his attendance was necessary because the Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all senators to convict an impeachable official and that serving as a senator-judge constituted a compelling reason for temporary leave from detention.
The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, however, rejected both arguments.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
It stressed that the impeachment trial, based on the Senate’s pre-trial order, is scheduled three days a week for a total of 92 trial days over 31 weeks, making Estrada’s request a recurring rather than temporary leave from detention.
“Indeed, this Court cannot consider the accused-movant’s request to be in the nature of an emergency or compelling temporary leave,” the resolution stated.
“While an impeachment trial is of paramount constitutional importance, its significance does not, by itself, provide a basis for the grant of his request.”
The court further ruled that allowing Estrada to attend the proceedings would undermine the purpose of preventive detention.
“Such a prolonged and recurring arrangement cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered an emergency or compelling temporary leave from detention,” it stressed.
The anti-graft court said that granting the request “would virtually make him a free man with all the privileges appurtenant to his position” and “make a mockery of the purposes of preventive detention.”
Earlier, Estrada’s camp withdrew a motion seeking the same relief after it was inadvertently filed before the Sandiganbayan Second Division. His lawyer said the motion should have been filed with the Fifth Division, which is handling his non-bailable P573 million plunder case.
Estrada is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas after being charged with plunder in connection with the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has denied Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada’s bid to attend the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, ruling that his request to repeatedly leave detention to serve as a senator-judge would defeat the purpose of preventive detention.
In a seven-page resolution promulgated on July 9, the anti-graft court found no merit in Estrada’s motion, saying the request would effectively allow him to enjoy the privileges of his office despite being under preventive detention.
“Accordingly, the Motion to Allow Accused Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada to Attend the Senate Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio dated June 29, 2026 of accused Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ P. Ejercito Estrada is DENIED for lack of merit,” the court stated.
Estrada had argued that his attendance was necessary because the Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all senators to convict an impeachable official and that serving as a senator-judge constituted a compelling reason for temporary leave from detention.
The anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, however, rejected both arguments.
It stressed that the impeachment trial, based on the Senate’s pre-trial order, is scheduled three days a week for a total of 92 trial days over 31 weeks, making Estrada’s request a recurring rather than temporary leave from detention.
“Indeed, this Court cannot consider the accused-movant’s request to be in the nature of an emergency or compelling temporary leave,” the resolution stated.
“While an impeachment trial is of paramount constitutional importance, its significance does not, by itself, provide a basis for the grant of his request.”
The court further ruled that allowing Estrada to attend the proceedings would undermine the purpose of preventive detention.
“Such a prolonged and recurring arrangement cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered an emergency or compelling temporary leave from detention,” it stressed.
The anti-graft court said that granting the request “would virtually make him a free man with all the privileges appurtenant to his position” and “make a mockery of the purposes of preventive detention.”
Earlier, Estrada’s camp withdrew a motion seeking the same relief after it was inadvertently filed before the Sandiganbayan Second Division. His lawyer said the motion should have been filed with the Fifth Division, which is handling his non-bailable P573 million plunder case.
Estrada is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas after being charged with plunder in connection with the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.