Sandiganbayan allows Estrada to post bail

Former Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada may now be a free man.

Voting 3-2, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division decided to allow Estrada to post bail for his plunder charge in connection with the anomalous use of his 1183-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which went to a fictitious non-government organizations (NGOs) owned by Janet Lim Napoles. He also has an additional 11 counts of graft, which are bailable.

Sources from the Sandiganbayan's Sheriff's Office said that they are now going to his detention cell to serve the resolution that would allow him to post bail. However, members of the media were not able to get a hold of the

resolution.

Estrada had earlier filed an omnibus motion in an attempt to get bail for his plunder charge, since he is suffering from a "long and continued confinement..." even "with no assurances when it would be terminated."

Because of this, Estrada said his jail sentence has affected his "mental, physical, and emotional dispositions and disturbs/rocks his sanity."

Estrada, together with former Senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla and Juan Ponce Enrile, were charged with plunder and graft in 2014 for the reported kickbacks they received for pooling their PDAF to Napoles' fake NGOs.

Estrada was accused of pocketing P183 million, while Enrile reportedly received P172 million. Revilla was said to have pocketed the highest amount – P242 million.

On their graft charges, Revilla has the most number of cases. He was slapped with 16 counts in violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, also known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, while Enrile has 15, and Estrada has 11.

Enrile was already able to post bail on humanitarian considerations. Only Revilla remains detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.