Wrong court filing derails Jinggoy's bid to attend Sara trial

The Sandiganbayan Second Division has granted Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's request to withdraw his motion seeking permission to attend the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate.

Estrada and his co-accused, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, had earlier posted P90,000 bail in connection with a graft case pending before the Second Division.

However, the senator remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory in Payatas due to separate plunder and graft charges under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.

Under Philippine law, plunder is a non-bailable offense. As such, an accused must file a motion for furlough to seek temporary release from detention.

Estrada filed his motion on 30 June, nearly a week before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opened on 6 July. However, because the motion was filed before the Second Division instead of the Fifth Division, which has jurisdiction over his detention, the proper court was unable to act on the request.

Acting on the erroneous filing, the Second Division ruled:

"Finding the withdrawal to be in order, the motion to allow his attendance in the impeachment trial is hereby deemed WITHDRAWN."

On 1 June, the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest against Estrada after finding probable cause to charge him over the alleged receipt of P573 million in flood control kickbacks involving DPWH infrastructure projects for 2025.

The senator was also placed under a 90-day preventive suspension, temporarily halting his legislative duties, salary, and benefits as a sitting senator.