MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jinggoy Estrada is facing a new set of cases for plunder and graft (Republic Act No. 3019) over his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan was also charged alongside Estrada in the filing at the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Thursday, May 28.

Plunder is non-bailable, so the two might be detained if the court issues a warrant of arrest against them. Unlike graft, plunder is no ordinary case because it can only be pursued if the amount in question is at least P50-million.

The filing against Estrada and Bonoan came weeks after the Office of the Ombudsman confirmed that it received the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) resolution to file cases against the two for plunder, graft, direct bribery and receiving gifts by public officers under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code, and corruption of public officials under Article 212.

But the Ombudsman, as the top anti-corruption body, only chose to pursue plunder and graft against the two. It had deputized the DOJ to help in the flood control corruption probe.

As early as February, Estrada and Bonoan were already barred from leaving the country after the DOJ secured a precautionary hold departure order against them.

According to the Ombudsman, the DOJ investigation allegedly showed that “multiple high-ranking public officials and private individuals conspired to maneuver allocations, rig public bidding processes, and siphon government funds stemming from major national infrastructure budget systems.”

“The preliminary investigation accumulated exhaustive evidence, including legislative records, Position Description Forms, and sworn transcripts from the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings held on November 14, 2025, which detailed illicit maneuvers and alleged 30% cuts surrounding regional flood control projects,” the investigative body added.

Asked to comment on Tuesday, May 26, on then-looming plunder and graft case, Estrada denied any wrongdoing and said: “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.”

Not the first

This is the third time Estrada has been slapped with a plunder charge.

He was previously charged with plunder and graft over the pork barrel scam. Estrada was acquitted of plunder in 2024, but his graft cases are still pending, as of writing.

Estrada first faced plunder cases when he and his father, former president Joseph Estrada, was accused of conspiring with each other to acquire hidden wealth amounting to P4 billion from jueteng operations, kickbacks from tobacco excise taxes, stock manipulation, and the use of a fictitious account to hide ill-gotten wealth.

The former president was found guilty, while the younger Estrada was acquitted because the testimony of the then-star witness, Chavit Singson, was not convincing enough. – Rappler.com

المصدر: Rappler (PH)