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Jinggoy Estrada ordered arrested by Sandiganbayan

By PATRICIA DENISE CHIU, GMA News

(Updated 1:21 p.m.) The Sandiganbayan on Monday issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and others involved in the plunder and graft cases in connection with the alleged multibillion peso pork barrel fund scam.



The anti-graft court issued a resolution upholding the finding of probable cause by the Ombudsman against Estrada and ordering his arrest. 

"Let warrants of arrest be issued against all the accused in the above mentioned cases," the resolution read.

Estrada is accused with 25 others for allegedly conspiring to pocket some P183.7 M in government funds through businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles' bogus NGO's.

Fifth Division chairman Justice Roland Jurado, Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Justice Alex Quiroz signed the resolution.

The resolution was filed after the three justices reviewed the case transmitted by the Ombudsman.
 
"In the case at bar, after personally perusing and assessing the Informations and evaluating the joint Resolution dated June 4, 2014 of the Office of the Ombudsman, the evidence in support thereof and the records of the preliminary investigation attached thereto, the Court finds that sufficient grounds exist for the finding of probable cause for the purpose of issuing warrants of arrest against the accused," the four page resolution read.
 
The Fifth Division also denied multiple motions by Estrada and his co-accused, saying that these are better discussed during the trial proper.
 
"The arguments raised by the accused movants in their respective motions are matters of defense which shall be best threshed out during the trial on the merits if these cases. Thus their prayers for the Court to suspend the proceedings and/or to defer the issuance of the warrant of arrest or to dismiss the cases are denied," the resolution said.
 
Other than Estrada, those facing plunder charges over the pork barrel scam are Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., and Napoles, the supposed mastermind of the multibillion-peso anomaly.

Meanwhile at a press conference in Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the issuance of the warrant is "a step forward in finding out the truth, which is fundamental in strengthening the trust of our people in our institutions and processes."
 
But he said the Filipino people should also remain "vigilant" throughout the process.
 
"[They should bear] in mind that the outcome should clearly reflect the profound reality—that just as every Filipino is accorded constitutional rights, these rights are to be protected in a manner that is just and in the service of the truth," Lacierda said.
 
Will surrender quietly
 
Earlier on Monday, Estrada said he has packed his clothes and is ready for detention. He added he will go directly to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame to surrender quietly.

Vehicles were readied at the house of the senator in Corinthian Hills in Quezon City to take him to Camp Crame.

However, he will visit his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, first before proceeding to Camp Crame.



Estrada's supporters also prepared red-and-white pins and stickers with the message "I (heart) Jinggoy."

Police at Camp Crame have been reported preparing for Estrada's arrival.



 —With reports from Joel Locsin and Kimberly Jane Tan/KG/RSJ, GMA News
Tags: bantaykaban, porkbarrelscam, jinggoyestrada
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