MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has denied a request by Jinggoy Estrada seeking the transmittal of preliminary investigation records from the Office of the Ombudsman in corruption cases related to the alleged misuse of legislative funds.

In a four-page resolution dated March 12, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division rejected Estrada’s motion for lack of merit and upheld its earlier ruling denying the same request.

The resolution was written by Associate Justice Maryann Corpus-Mañalac, with Associate Justices Zaldy Trespeses and Gener Gito concurring.

“As observed by this court, the accused (Estrada) has failed to: (1) demonstrate compelling reasons to order the production of the requested preliminary investigation records; (2) specify which documents from the records he requests to be transmitted; (3) explain why such documents are necessary, material, and relevant to his presentation of evidence; and (4) allege that the preliminary investigation records already included in the records of these cases are insufficient for his declared purpose,” the court said.

The tribunal added that Estrada’s “assertions are vague, all-encompassing, and do not sufficiently describe the books, papers and documents that he intends to introduce as evidence.”

“As such, the accused’s Motion must be denied, and the court finds no cogent reason to disturb its earlier ruling,” it added.

The cases are separate from the plunder charges previously filed against Estrada over alleged kickbacks amounting to more than ₱200 million linked to the misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund. The senator was acquitted in that case two years ago.