Ibinasura ng Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ang mosyon ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada na dumalo sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte dahil sa kawalan ng merito.
Sa isang resolusyon na may petsang Hulyo 9, 2026, sinabi ng korte kontra katiwalian na "bereft of merit" ang mosyon ni Estrada.
"This court cannot consider the accused-movant's request to be in the nature of emergency of compelling temporary leave. While an impeachment trial is of paramount constitutional importance, its significance does not, by itself, provide a basis for the grant of his request," saad nito.
Kinasuhan si Estrada ng non-bailable na plunder na nagkakahalaga ng P573 milyon at dalawang bilang ng graft kaugnay ng umano’y pagkakadawit niya sa anomalya sa mga proyekto sa flood control.
Sa isang non-bailable na pagkakasala, dapat munang maghain ng petisyon ang akusado para makapagpiyansa at makuha ang pansamantalang kalayaan.
"Overall, the trial period would span 31 weeks. Such a prolonged and recurring arrangement cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered an emergency or compelling temporary leave from detention. Allowing the accused-movant to attend the impeachment trial would virtually make him a free man with all the privileges appurtenant to his position," dagdag ng korte.
Gayundin, sinabi nito na “mockery of the purposes of preventive detention” ang pagpayag kay Estrada na lumahok sa mga proseso ng impeachment.
"To grant such request would substantially erode the very restraints that lawful detention necessarily entails," dagdag ng Sandiganbayan. — VBL GMA News
