MANILA – Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed a petition for bail before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, seeking temporary release while facing a P573-million plunder charge linked to the alleged flood control corruption scandal.

The petition was filed on July 29, two days after the anti-graft court denied Estrada’s motion to fix bail, ruling that the request was premature because no formal petition for bail had yet been filed.

In his petition, Estrada argued that the prosecution has failed to present strong evidence to justify denying him bail.

“There is no strong evidence that during the period of July of 2024 to March of 2025, accused Estrada, directly or indirectly, through a combination or series of overt or criminal acts, amassed, accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth or unjustly enriched himself in the amount of P573,750,000, or any amount for that matter,” the petition read.

He also denied allegations that he demanded or received kickbacks from then Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo or any of the latter’s representatives.

“There is no strong evidence that accused Estrada willfully and unlawfully demanded, solicited, or received, directly or indirectly, from DPWH Undersecretary Roberto R. Bernardo, or the latter’s aide, driver, or representative, or from District Engineer Henry C. Alcantara, any so called ‘commitment,’ kickbacks, or commissions, whether in the amount of 25% of the total project budget of P88,750,000 or P125,000,000 or otherwise, either by reason of his position as Senator or in connection with any DPWH flood control or infrastructure project,” Estrada’s petition read.

The senator likewise maintained that there is no evidence showing he sought similar favors from then Bulacan First District Engineering Office District Engineer Henry Alcantara.

Estrada further argued that prosecutors failed to establish that he and co-accused Manuel Bonoan unlawfully caused Department of Public Works and Highways infrastructure and flood control projects to be included in the National Expenditure Program, the General Appropriations Bill, the Bicameral Conference Committee Report, or the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2025.

“There is no strong evidence of any conspiracy to commit plunder or any other crime between accused Estrada and his co-accused Manuel Bonoan, Denryl Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, and Arturo Gonzales, Jr. Because the evidence of his guilt is not strong, accused Estrada should be admitted to bail,” the petition added.

Earlier, the Sandiganbayan denied Estrada’s motion to fix bail, explaining that bail is not a matter of right for those charged with capital offenses, including plunder, and that the court must first determine through a bail hearing whether the evidence of guilt is strong before setting a bail amount.

Apart from the plunder case, Estrada is also facing two counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged flood control corruption scandal, with one case pending before the Fifth Division and another before the Second Division.

According to Ombudsman prosecutors, the charges stem from an alleged “intricate mechanism involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations” within the DPWH’s infrastructure portfolio for fiscal year 2025 amounting to P573 million. Plunder is a non-bailable offense punishable by reclusion perpetua.