Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s Plunder Case No. 3

In college, numbers were not my favorite. Rather unfortunate. My grades in College Algebra and Trigonometry affected somehow my Latin honors upon graduation. While I understood then that numbers were (aha, they still are!) the foundation of mathematics and scientific measurement, I had the tendency to use numbers for divination and mystical interpretation. It was my escape from the stark reality that I was poor in mathematics. Of course, I knew that numerology fell (as it still does) outside the realm of empirical science.

Even then, I viewed numerology as the ancient metaphysical belief that numbers carry energetic vibrations and represent a pattern of meaning in the universe. In that context, I asked the internet what was the number three in numerology and it right away it replied that “the number 3 is the ultimate symbol of self-expression, creativity, and joy”. Wow!

I wanted to find a mystical explanation on number 3 when I heard the news that the Office of the Ombudsman filed against Senator Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada Jr., plunder and two counts of graft charges. I was shocked by the terrible news because that May 28 case was, if my memory serves me right, the third criminal action lodged against the popular entertainer/senator.

Was it not that in April 2001, more than two decades ago, the very first plunder case was filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada as co-accused alongside his father, former president Joseph Estrada? According to the internet, the 2001 case was in connection with his alleged involvement in the following: 1.) Receiving ?545 million in protection money from illegal jueteng numbers game operators. 2.) Misappropriation of ?130 million in tobacco excise taxes. 3.) Receiving a ?189.7-million commission from the sale of a real estate company and 4.) Amassing and depositing ?3.2 billion in the "Jose Velarde" bank account.

The records showed that Senator Estrada was detained and arrested in April 2001, released on bail in March 2003, and ultimately acquitted by the Sandiganbayan in September 2007 because the prosecution failed to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

About 12 years ago, or on June 5, 2014, a second plunder case against Senator Estrada was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. That indictment involved the multi-billion-peso "pork barrel" scam, where he was accused of misusing ?183 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) by funneling the money to fake non-governmental organizations linked to businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

It is worthwhile noting that In January 2024, or just a little two years ago, the Sandiganbayan acquitted him of plunder in this specific case although he still faced other related graft charges.

The mystic vibration of the number 3 is getting to be horrible to interpret in the instant case of Senator Estrada. He is facing a third career plunder case. This plunder case number 3 filed by the Office of the Ombudsman with the Sandiganbayan alleged that Estrada received ?573 million in kickbacks from rigged project allocations and illegal budgetary insertions within the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Senator Estrada already posted bail for the bailable graft charges, thereby submitting himself to the jurisdiction of the court. But plunder, under Philippine law is a non-bailable offense. I have the feeling that the numerology allusion of number 3 being “the ultimate symbol of self-expression”, Estrada will not do a Senator Bato de la Rosa escape act. His acquittal in the two previous plunder cases will give him the mystic vibration to face the criminal charges.