The Jinggoy Estrada Plunder Case

Senator Jinggoy Estrada was on his second term in the Senate when the pork barrel scam broke out and hit the headlines in 2013.

He and fellow senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr., were charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conniving with businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to gain millions of pesos in kickbacks from ghost projects financed by their priority development assistance fund allocations.

Revilla has since been acquitted of the plunder case against him while Napoles is already serving time after getting convicted of the charge. Meanwhile, in October 2023, the court allowed Enrile to file a motion to dismiss the plunder case against him. His trial is still ongoing.

August 16, 2013

The Commission on Audit revealed that P6.156-billion pork barrel from close to 200 lawmakers went to 82 mostly dubious non-government organizations (NGOs) from 2007 to 2009, including 10 linked to controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

September 16, 2013

The Office of the Ombudsman received plunder complaints against trader Napoles, the three senators, and two former members of the House of Representatives.

September 25, 2013

Estrada delivered a privilege speech in criticizing the Commission on Audit (COA) for her a  "biased" and "selective" report on alleged anomalies involving pork barrel funds.

April 1, 2014

The Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Enrile, Estrada, Revilla, and Napoles, with plunder in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam. 

June 6, 2014

Plunder charges were filed before the Sandiganbayan against Estrada, Revilla, and Enrile in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Also charged was Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the racket that involved the diversion of billions of pesos worth of livelihood projects and farm inputs intended for poor farmers into ghost NGOs and kickbacks.

June 23, 2014

The Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Estrada and others involved in the plunder and graft cases in connection with the alleged multibillion peso pork barrel fund scam.

He turned himself in to the Philippine National Police shortly after the warrant was issued.

Estrada filed a motion for bail with the anti-graft court.

He was detained with Revilla at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame. 

June 30,2014

The Sandiganbayan entered a not guilty plea for Estrada following his refusal to enter one himself.

July 15, 2014

Estrada arrived at the Sandiganbayan  for his bail hearing.

July 18, 2014

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ordered the suspension of  Estrada for 90 days in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam.

September 2, 2014

The Senate on Tuesday implemented the 90-day suspension of Senator Jinggoy Estrada after the Sandigabayan dismissed Estrada's motion for reconsideration.

August 18, 2015

The Supreme Court granted the Enrile's bail petition due to his advanced age.

September 15, 2017

The Sandigabayan granted Estrada's appeal to post bail.

The court ordered the former senator to post bail amounting to P1 million for plunder and P330,000 for graft.

October 16, 2018

Estrada filed his certificate of candidacy for the 2019 senatorial elections accompanied by his father, former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

May 17, 2019

Estrada  conceded defeat in the 2019 midterm elections.

December 7, 2018

The Sandiganbayan said it found former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. not guilty of plunder in connection with the multi-billion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

The anti-graft court found Napoles and lawyer Richard Cambe guilty and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua.

April 4, 2019

Estrada sought the outright dismissal of his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan, arguing there that there was insufficient evidence that he illegally amassed P183 million through the misuse of his congressional entitlements.

The camp of Estrada filed his 115-page demurrer to evidence before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on March 29.

June 14, 2019

The Sandiganbayan ruled that the prosecution presented enough evidence for the trial to proceed in the Estrada and Napoles.

September 29, 2021

Estrada announced that he will again run for a Senate seat in Eleksyon 2022.

June 28, 2022

Estrada took his oath of office as a newly elected senator before Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan.

January 19, 2024

Estrada is acquitted of plunder but is found guilty of direct and indirect bribery charges.

—NB/RSJ, GMA Integrated News