Umapela si Senador Jinggoy Estrada, na nahaharap sa P573-milyong kasong plunder kaugnay ng flood control mess, sa Sandiganbayan na nauna nang tumanggi sa kaniyang hiling na makapagpiyansa.

Sinabi ni Estrada na hindi siya flight risk at exception to the general rule ang kaniyang kaso.

Binanggit ng senador ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema (SC) noong 2015 at pinagtibay noong 2016, na pumayag na makapagpiyansa ang dating akusado at senador na si Juan Ponce Enrile batay sa humanitarian grounds at hindi pagiging isang flight risk.

Sa panahong iyon, nahaharap si Enrile sa P172-milyong kasong plunder kaugnay ng maling paggamit umano ng kaniyang discretionary pork barrel o Priority Development Assistance Fund. Inabsuwelto siya ng Sandiganbayan sa kaso noong Oktubre 2025.

“In Enrile [SC ruling], Senator Enrile was granted bail because he was not a flight risk irrespective of the strength of the evidence against him. It is this exception to the general rule that accused Estrada invokes in asking the Honorable Court to fix the amount of bail and order his release sans a summary hearing where the prosecution presents evidence of the guilt of the accused,” saad sa mosyon ni Estrada.

“Accused Estrada submits that he is similarly situated as Senator Enrile. They are both not flight risks,” dagdag pa nito.

Binanggit ng kaniyang kampo na bilang isang kasalukuyang senador na nahalal noong 2022, hindi matatapos ang termino ni Estrada hanggang Hunyo 2028. Idinagdag rin na halos 40 taon nang nagsisilbi sa bansa si Estrada.

Gayundin, sinabi ni Estrada na maraming beses nang pinagbigyan ng korte ang kaniyang mga naunang mosyon na bumiyahe sa ibang bansa kahit na mayroon siyang 11 bilang ng mga kasong graft na nakabinbin sa iba pang mga dibisyon ng Sandiganbayan.

Idinagdag niya na ngayong taon lamang ay tatlong beses siyang pinayagang lumabas ng bansa.

Narito ang listahan ng mga paglalakbay ni Estrada sa ibang bansa na pinayagan ng Sandiganbayan:

  • Mayo 26 hanggang Hunyo 1, 2025 sa Hong Kong at Macau
  • Hulyo 6 hanggang 27, 2025 sa Estados Unidos
  • Disyembre 26 hanggang 31, 2025 sa Japan
  • Enero 5 hanggang 15, 2026 sa Austria at Norway
  • Marso 20 hanggang Abril 5, 2026 sa Japan at
  • Abril 21 hanggang 25, 2026 sa Singapore, bukod sa iba pa.

“To be sure, accused Estrada is not 92 years old, as Senator Enrile was. Nor does he possess the fragile health of a nonagenarian. Yet these differences do not alter the essential point: accused Estrada is not a flight risk. There are currently several high-profile criminal defendants who remain at large, evading arrest and undermining the authority of the courts. Accused Estrada has never exhibited the slightest inclination to flee the jurisdiction of Philippine courts,” saad sa kaniyang mosyon.

“Upon learning of the issuance of the arrest warrant against him by the Honorable Court, he immediately voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement authorities. His conduct demonstrates respect for judicial processes and affirms that he poses no risk of flight. Wherefore, premises considered, accused Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada respectfully prays that the Honorable Court reconsider its Resolution dated 24 July 2026 and issue a new one granting his Motion to Fix Bail dated 29 June 2026. Other relief, just and equitable under the premises, is likewise prayed for,” dagdag pa ng mosyon. —Jamil Santos/AOL GMA News