MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has upheld the acquittal of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from charges in connection with the alleged misuse of P183 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations.
In an eight-page ruling, the anti-graft court rejected the motion for reconsideration filed by the prosecution seeking to reinstate Estrada’s conviction on one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery due to “double jeopardy.”
“Besides, the instant motion seeks to revisit the factual findings of Estrada’s acquittal that would place the latter in double jeopardy,” the Sandiganbayan ruling dated November 27 said.
“His acquittal cannot be assailed under the guise of a motion for reconsideration as the first jeopardy has already attached which will be discussed hereunder,” it added.
Under the double jeopardy rule, when a person is charged with an offense and the case is terminated either by acquittal or conviction or in any other manner without the consent of the accused, the latter cannot again be charged with the same or identical offense.
The prosecution stated in their motion that the anti-graft court committed a mistake when it reversed the first ruling that found Estrada guilty. It also said that indirect bribery and direct bribery are “essentially the same.”
“At the outset, the issues raised by the prosecution were already discussed rigorously in the assailed resolution and there is no need to belabor the same. It would be a useless ritual for the Court to reiterate itself,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Estrada, in a statement, stated that the anti-graft court’s ruling reaffirms his innocence on the charges against him.
“Patunay lamang ito ng matagal ko nang pinanghahawakan, ang kawalan ng basehan ng mga paratang laban sa akin, hindi ko ginamit ang pondo ng bayan para sa pansariling kapakinabangan o para pagtakpan ang anumang gawain na labag sa batas,” Estrada said.
“This vindication allows me to fully concentrate on the mandate entrusted to me by more than 15 million Filipino voters and move forward with crafting more meaningful legislation,” he added./PN
