FORMER Senator Jinggoy Estrada has asked the Supreme Court to order the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the graft charges since he was already facing plunder case based on similar allegation of misuse involving his Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.
In a petition, Estrada appealed to the SC to direct the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division to junk the graft cases against him for lack of merit.
“The Sandiganbayan’s refusal to dismiss the indictments against petitioner Estrada in the Graft cases, notwithstanding the indictment for plunder based on very same allegations of ‘overt or criminal acts’ is nothing less than a defiance of this Honorable Court’s rulings and an attempt to place itself and above the law and in violation of petitioner Estrada’s rights,” Estrada stressed.
In particular, Estrada sought the dismissal of the graft cases filed against him docketed as Crim. Case Nos. SB-14-CRM-0256 to 0266.
According to him, the Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued a resolution dated July 14, 2016 and Oct. 4, 2016 denying his plea to dismiss these graft charges.
The SC recently dismissed Estrada’s appeal questioning the preliminary investigation conducted by the Ombudsman, which eventually indicted him before the Sandiganbayan.
The SC also denied the petition of Estrada questioning the arrest warrant earlier issued against him.
Morales had found probable cause to indict Estrada along with Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and several others for plunder and graft, in connection with irregularities involving their respective pork barrel funds.
Estrada was accused by star witness Benhur Luy and Ruby Tuason of receiving money from the pork barrel funds allegedly orchestrated by pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim-Napoles.