SC junks Estrada plea to dismiss graft raps over PDAF scam

SC spokesman Theodore Te announced the directive during summer session of the magistrates in Baguio City. (Photo: Philippine News Agency)

MANILA–The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to junk the graft charges against him filed before the Sandiganbayan in connection with his plunder case involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

SC spokesman Theodore Te announced the directive during summer session of the magistrates in Baguio City.

”The Court denied with finality petitioner Estrada’s motion for reconsideration of its January 24, 2017 Resolution for not having raised any new and substantive arguments to merit a reconsideration. In the January 24 Resolution, the Court denied the petition for certiorari and prohibition since the Sandiganbayan committed no grave abuse of discretion in not suppressing the questioned disbursement reports and the testimony of witness Benhur Luy,” Te read the decision.

Estrada pleaded to order the Sandiganbayan 5th Division to dismiss the charges against him for lack of merit.

Estrada alleged that the anti-graft court must junk the graft charges against him in view of his indictment for plunder which is anchored on very same allegations.

He alleged that the Sandiganbayan has committed grave abuse of discretion in denying his plea to dismiss these charges after the anti-graft court issued as resolution dated July 14, 2016 and October 4, 2016.

Recently, the SC en banc junked Estrada’s appeal after he questioned the preliminary investigation conducted by the Ombudsman which eventually indicted him before the Sandiganbayan.

The high court has also junked the petition of Estrada questioning the arrest warrant earlier issued against him.