Estrada vows to use all legal remedies vs. plunder, graft accusations

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday vowed to "exhaust all legal remedies" after plunder and graft cases were filed against him with the Sandiganbayan in relation to the massive flood control controversy.

In a statement, Estrada said his legal team is now preparing the necessary steps to challenge what he described as procedural irregularities as well as the alleged failure to consider vital pieces of evidence favorable to his case.

"We will exhaust all legal remedies," Estrada said.

Among these pieces of evidence, the senator said, is the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) letter indicating he did not make insertions in the 2025 national budget.

"Isa itong mahalagang ebidensya na tahasang pinapabulaanan ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa akin, subalit sadyang isinantabi," Estrada said.

(This is a vital evidence that would refute all allegations against me. However, it was set aside.)

The senator further said he was not accorded sufficient time to study and file a motion for reconsideration, which he said has "serious implications to my right to due process".

"Kapanasin-pansin din na, mula nang magpalit ng liderato sa Senado, naging mabilis ang pag-usad ng mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng ilang miyembro ng majority bloc," he added.

(It is also noticeable that the cases against the members of the majority bloc were expedited following the change in leadership at the Senate.)

Meanwhile, Estrada said the immediate filing of a case against him went against the Ombudsman's previous pronouncement that it would conduct an “independent review and resolution on the merits of the case.”

"Batay sa mga pangyayari, malinaw na kailangang suriin kung naisakatuparan nga ang pahayag na ito," he said.

(Based on the developments, it is clear that we need to examine if the Ombudsman conducted the said investigation.)

"As I have said before, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing by my principles and for what I believe in, then so be it," Estrada said.—LDF, GMA News