Anti-graft court freezes Jinggoy Estrada’s assets

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Anti-graft court freezes Jinggoy Estrada’s assets
Covered by the order are his 4 bank accounts holding P76.4 million, his shares of stock, loan, real and personal properties, and other financial instruments

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The anti-graft court on Monday, February 23, ordered the garnishment of the assets of Senator Jinggoy Estrada amounting to P183.79 million in connection with his plunder case over the pork barrel scam. 

In a resolution, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said there was “sufficient cause of action” against Estrada based on the evidence presented by principal whistleblower Benhur Luy and the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

These showed “prima facie” that the accused senator received over P50 million in kickbacks from the illegal diversion of his discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the court said.

“Let a Writ of Preliminary Attachment issued against accused Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada requiring the Sheriff of this Court to attach so much of the property in the Philippines of said accused…as may be sufficient to satisfy the applicant’s demand in an amount not exceeding Php 183,793,750.00 in value,” the Sandiganbayan said.  

The amount garnished corresponds with the total amount of public funds that the senator was accused of stealing under the biggest corruption scandal to hit the country in recent years. (READ: Pork tales)

Estrada’s frozen assets includes his 4 bank accounts holding a total of P76.4 million in funds, as well as his shares of stock, loan, real and personal properties, and other financial instruments. 

The Sandiganbayan earlier ordered the garnishment of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr’s assets totaling P224.512 million. Revilla was also charged with plunder and graft over the pork barrel scam. 

The Ombudsman’s move to freeze the assets of the accused lawmakers bars them from transferring their wealth to another source while the case is still being heard, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Asryman Rafanan earlier said. 

This will allow the government to recover public funds should the lawmakers be found guilty of amassing wealth through illegal means in the future, said Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera. (READ: Ombudsman seeks freeze order on Jinggoy Estrada’s assets

Estrada maintains innocence

In a statement issued hours after the Sandiganbayan issued a writ of preliminary attachment, Estrada reiterated his innocence and maintained that the prosecution’s motion has “no legal leg to stand on.” 

“Senator Estrada has not concealed, removed or disposed of his property; nor is he about to do so. As a matter of fact, the alleged findings of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) only show that his assets are intact and have not been concealed or removed,” Estrada said. 

“It is undisputed that the funds in question were never placed in Sen. Estrada’s possession or custody. Under the circumstances, Sen. Estrada cannot be deemed an “accountable officer” of the subject funds. Hence, he cannot be held liable for embezzlement or misappropriation of funds, which he was never in custody or possession of, and for which, he is not considered accountable by law,” he added. 

Estrada also reiterated his defense that his participation in the PDAF scam was “merely recommendatory, hitting Luy’s ledger, which forms part of the testimony against him, as mere “hearsay.”  – Angela Casauay/Rappler.com

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