Senator Estrada Reports to Anti-Graft Court Following Overseas Holy Week Vacation
In strict adherence to the conditions of his travel clearance, Senator Jinggoy Estrada personally appeared at the Sandiganbayan this Monday, following his recent vacation abroad during the Holy Week period. The senator traveled to the office of the clerk of court for the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division after his trip to the special administrative regions of China, including Hong Kong and Macau, as well as to Japan, which lasted from March 31 to April 5.
Senator Estrada did not grant any interviews and avoided questions from members of the media who were waiting outside the court office. Due to pending cases against him, Estrada is strictly required to obtain permission from the anti-graft court before leaving the Philippines. He secured this clearance last month.
Ongoing Legal Battles and Graft Charges
Currently, the senator still faces 11 counts of graft related to the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam. He is accused of allegedly receiving P55.79 million in kickbacks from convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. It is worth recalling that last year, the court acquitted Estrada of plunder charges but convicted him for direct and indirect bribery.
Meanwhile, a recent accusation has surfaced from Brice Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer of the Public Works department, alleging that Estrada maneuvered to allocate P355 million in funds for the first district of Bulacan in exchange for a 30 percent kickback. Estrada vehemently denied these allegations and insisted that his past involvement with the PDAF issue is the primary reason he is quickly implicated in corruption accusations now.
According to the lawmaker, his history has made him an easy target for corruption allegations. This development underscores the ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges faced by public figures in the Philippines, particularly in cases involving government funds and anti-graft measures.
