‘Cancel Jinggoy’s P.5-M bail’

Government prosecutors have asked the Supreme Court to cancel the P500,000 bail the Sandiganbayan granted former San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada last March 7, arguing that the son of former President Joseph Estrada is as guilty as his father.

Chief special prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio said they asked the High Court to reverse the anti-graft court’s ruling because the younger Estrada is not entitled to bail, having allegedly benefited from jueteng money during his father’s tenure.

Villa Ignacio said he found two Supreme Court decisions which not only illustrated their position debunking the court’s theory of "overlapping conspiracy," but strengthened it as well.

"These rulings also apply to Jinggoy. It’s Monroy vs Castelo in the 1960s," he said.

Villa Ignacio and Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo earlier said the 40-year-old actor should be rearrested since his involvement in the plunder case was that of a mere underling, who did not directly deal with the principal in a compartmentalized crime but who was as guilty as the principal himself. — Delon Porcalla