Jinggoy pre-trial for plunder reset anew

The Sandiganbayan again postponed yesterday former senator Jinggoy Estrada’s pre-trial for plunder and graft in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Estrada appeared before the anti-graft court’s 5th Division for the scheduled pre-trial.

Magistrates of the Sandiganbayan reset Estrada’s pretrial for plunder to March 6 after defense lawyers sought the approval of the court to present more evidence.

The camp of the former senator wanted to present documents that would supplement the testimonies of their witnesses.

Estrada’s lawyers argued that they had to wait for the prosecution to finish with the marking of their exhibits so they can prepare their counterevidence.

The prosecution opposed the defense’s motion, citing court rules to proceed with the trial with evidence presented during the preliminary conference.

Estrada accused the prosecution of delaying the case.

“Wala nang ginawa ang prosecution kundi mag- delay ng mag- delay. Kami namang mga

nakakulong, kawawa rito (The prosecution is doing nothing but delaying the case. Those of us detained are the ones suffering),” he said.

The preliminary conference for the 11 counts of graft filed against the former senator was moved to Feb. 14.

Estrada is accused of alreceiving P183.793 million in kickbacks by funneling his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations from 2004 to 2012 to fake foundations linked to alleged PDAF scam mastermind Janet LimNapoles.

He has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City since June 2014.

Last Jan. 12, the trial of former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. was deferred after the Sandiganbayan First Division noted some errors in the prosecution’s marking of documentary evidence.

Revilla is also facing plunder and graft charges for allegedly pocketing P224.5 million in kickbacks from his pork barrel from 2006 to 2010.