Sandigan enters not-guilty plea for Jinggoy

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Second Division has rejected Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s appeal to dismiss his graft case, and entered a not-guilty plea for him after he refused to plead in the case involving kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.

Estrada, clad in a yellow uniform for inmates, attended the arraignment through teleconference. His lawyers had moved for him to participate in the proceedings through videoconferencing, saying the senator is suffering from osteoarthritis.

During the proceedings, Estrada asked the court if he can be excused for a while as he is in pain due to his condition.

Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg allowed him to be excused, but directed him to stay in the vicinity, to which Estrada replied: “Tatayo tayo na lang po ako.”

The senator was arraigned after the anti-graft court denied his omnibus motion to dismiss the case, suspend the proceedings and remand the criminal information for reinvestigation.

Likewise, the court has denied the motion of  former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan to dismiss the case against him.

Bonoan is confined at the Medical City.

His arraignment has been deferred to a later date.

Based on police information provided to the court, Bonoan’s illnesses include diabetes, hypertension, acute coronary syndrome, chronic kidney disease, prostate cancer, carcinoma and pain in the spine.

Surprised, Econg asked, “Bakit ang dami? (Why so many?)”

Econg said the court will ask the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide a medical update on Bonoan.

Estrada’s lawyers should file within 10 days their comment as to why the senator should not be preventively suspended from office.

In this case, ombudsman prosecutors have accused Bonoan and Estrada of conspiring to collect commitment fees from contractors of flood control projects.

Estrada allegedly sought funding for P355 million worth of projects in Bulacan’s first district and P500 million in other Bulacan districts, totaling P855 million.

It was alleged that commitment fees were at 25 percent, or P213.7 million.

Estrada and Bonoan posted their bail of P90,000 before the Second Division.

They are also charged with plunder and another graft case before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, involving P573 million worth of kickbacks from flood control projects.

Plunder arraignment reset

In their case before the Fifth Division, the court has reset to June 30 the arraignment of Estrada and Bonoan.

Non-bailable plunder and graft charges have been filed against them.

Estrada and Bonoan have pending motions to dismiss, hence the rescheduling.

Their co-accused, suspended public works assistant district engineer Denryl Cortuna and district engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzales, pleaded not guilty.

Bulusan and Gonzales’ lawyers must explain why their clients should not be preventively suspended, the court said.

Prosecutors were given 10 days to file a consolidated comment on the pleadings.

Estrada’s lawyers have withdrawn their motions to fix bail and transfer him to another detention facility, at Camp Crame.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the PNP Custodial Center can no longer accommodate inmates since it will be demolished.

Estrada is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

His lawyer said Estrada is “satisfied” with the conditions in the facility, adding that his family is able to visit him.

To date, Estrada is the highest-sitting official to be arrested over the flood control controversy.

Estrada was acquitted of two plunder cases stemming from the jueteng (illegal numbers game) scandal in 2001 and pork barrel scam in 2014.

‘Shirt’s too small’

Estrada’s mugshot showing a detainee shirt draped over his shoulders is not a case of special treatment, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday.

“No shirts fit him. We made him try all the clothes available and they just won’t fit due to his build,” said Col. John Guiagui, head of the CIDG National Capital Region field unit.

Dizon files raps vs Discayas

In another development, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday filed additional non-bailable charges against contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya over a substandard flood control project in Bulacan.

Filed before the ombudsman, the complaint tags a failed flood control initiative in Barangay Bulusan in Calumpit, Bulacan, which authorities said left residents at the mercy of rising waters despite the massive budget allocated for their protection. – Daphne Galvez, Emmanuel Tupas, Rainier Allan Ronda