The Sandiganbayan has issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Jinggoy Estrada in connection with a graft case stemming from alleged anomalies in government flood control projects.
The warrant was issued on Thursday after the Office of the Ombudsman formally filed graft and plunder charges against Estrada and several former Department of Public Works and Highways officials.
The anti-graft body filed the cases weeks after receiving the recommendation of the Department of Justice, which earlier endorsed the filing of plunder, graft, and bribery charges.
Investigators alleged that Estrada facilitated the allocation of hundreds of millions of pesos through budget insertions linked to flood control projects.
During a House committee hearing in September last year, former DPWH assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez alleged that Estrada maneuvered the allocation of ₱355 million for projects in Bulacan’s first district in exchange for a 30% commission.
Estrada has repeatedly denied the allegations.
“Well, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing on my own principles and what I believe in, so be it,” Estrada said earlier following the filing of the complaints.
The senator also cited findings of the Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office, which he said showed there was no record that he inserted items into the national budget.
The latest case adds to Estrada’s legal troubles before the Sandiganbayan.
He is currently facing 11 counts of graft that remained pending despite his acquittal in a separate plunder case involving his Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Estrada and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles were acquitted of plunder over the alleged misuse of ₱200 million in PDAF funds. However, the Sandiganbayan earlier denied his motion to dismiss the related graft charges.
Estrada was also previously convicted of direct and indirect bribery involving alleged kickbacks from PDAF funds, although the anti-graft court later reversed the ruling in August.
