Jinggoy to appeal Ombudsman’s decision on plunder raps over ‘pork’ scam

(Updated 1:53 p.m.) Although he called the Office of the Ombudsman's investigation a "moro-moro," Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday said he will appeal the decision to file plunder charges against him over the alleged pork barrel scam.

In a television interview, Estrada said his camp will file a motion for reconsideration before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday next week, although he is pessimistic about this move.

"Maghahain na po kami sa darating na Lunes sapagkat natanggap na po ng aking abogado ang joint resolution na nanggaling po sa Ombudsman. Siyempre ine-expect ko na ibabasura nila iyon. Pero siyempre, we will exert all legal remedies," the senator said.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it has decided to charge Senators Estrada, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile with plunder over the pork barrel scam. Estrada promptly belittled it as an "April Fools' Day operation."

Revilla's camp had also earlier signified its intention to appeal the Ombudsman's decision. Enrile, meanwhile, has yet to make a statement on the matter.

'Moro-moro' 

The three senators are being accused of pocketing the kickbacks from the alleged scam, supposedly engineered by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. They have earlier denied these allegations.

Estrada added that even before the recommendations were made, he did not fully trust the Ombudsman's deliberations on the plunder charge. 

"Alam naman namin na moro-moro na lang iyan. Kaya ito na nga ang nangyari. Mukha talagang [minadali] ang kaso laban sa amin. It took them only six months to read voluminous documents," he said.

In 2001, Estrada already faced a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conspiring with his father, former President Joseph Estrada, to amass billions of ill-gotten wealth from jueteng operations and kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes.

In 2007, the Sandiganbayan acquitted Senator Estrada in relation to this plunder case, although his father was convicted.?

'Insult to Supreme Court'

In a separate interview Wednesday, Revilla's lawyer, Joel Bodegon, called the Ombudsman's decision on the plunder raps against his client as an insult to the Supreme Court (SC).

Bodegon said the Ombudsman should have let the SC decide first on Revilla's petition contesting the plunder complaint.

"Ang tingin ng Ombudsman ay magiging moot and academic ang aming posisyon sa Supreme Court, na isang malaking kamalian... Hindi po napatay ng resolution na iyan ng issue sa SC, iyong issue ng prejudicial question. Ang ginawa ng Ombudsman ay malaking kamalian at insulto sa SC," Bodegon said over GMA News' "Unang Balita."

In his petition before the SC, Revilla argued that the Ombudsman committed grave abuse of discretion when it went on with the preliminary investigation on his plunder complaint, without waiting for the resolution of of a separate civil complaint he had filed with the Bacoor City Regional Trial Court in Cavite.

The civil case, filed by Revilla against pork barrel scam whistleblowers last year, seeks to nullify documents presented by the witnesses to the government, which were supposedly forged. 

The high court will hold oral arguments on Revilla's plea in Baguio City. 

'Speedy trial'

Even before his colleagues were able to file their appeals, Senate President Franklin Drilon called for swift court proceedings on cases involving the alleged pork barrel scam.

"With due respect, I call on the Sandiganbayan to set the case for speedy trail so that the innocent would be cleared of the charges and set free, and the guilty punished and jailed," Drilon said in a statement Wednesday.

He also said the Ombudsman's decision "is purely based on an honest and objective appreciation and appraisal of the facts and evidence."

Asked if the three senators implicated in the alleged pork barrel scam should go on leave, the Senate leader said, "That is a matter addressed to their conscience, for their own judgment. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/HS, GMA News