MANILA, Philippines – Tinanggihan ng Sandiganbayan ang petisyon ni Senador Jinggoy Estrada na pagsama-samahin ang kasong plunder at graft na inihain laban sa kanya kaugnay sa maanomalyang flood control project.
Sa walong pahinang resolusyon ng Sandiganbayan na may petsang Hunyo 24, sinabi na ang tatlong kaso ni estrada ay kinasasangkutan ng unrelated transactions at ang joint trial ay magpapaantala sa paglilitis ni Estrada para sa plunder case na isang non-bailable offense.
Nangangahulugan ito na si Estrada ay makakapaghain ng petisyon para makapagpiyansa at makakuha ng approval ng anti-graft court para makapagpiyansa at pansamantalang makalaya.
Ang dalawa iba pang graft case ni Estrada kaugnay sa flood control ay pending pa sa Second at Fifth Divisions. Sa kabila nito ay isang bailable offense ang graft charge.
“While indeed the plunder case shares a common question of fact with each of the anti-graft cases, a consolidation of these cases would defeat the purpose of consolidation and impede the progress of the latter. The crime of plunder carries a penalty of reclusion perpetua to death. It is basic that bail cannot be allowed without a prior hearing to a person charged with an offense punishable with reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment,” sinabi ng Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.
“Should a consolidation or joint trial be effected and either or both anti-graft cases be tried jointly with the plunder case, they stand to be stalled for as long as the court conducts hearings on the bail petitions. Proceeding independently, on the other hand, the anti-graft cases, which do not require a bail hearing, may go directly to trial,” dagdag pa.
Si Estrada ay nahaharap sa 11 counts ng graft case sa Sandiganbayan Fifth Division kaugnay sa maling paggamit ng discretionary Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), na lahat ay pending pa mula 2014. RNT/JGC
