Sandiganbayan Rejects Inhibition Request of Justices in Jinggoy Cases

The Sandiganbayan on Wednesday has unanimously rejected the request for inhibition of the three justices handling the graft and plunder cases of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang yesterday said the anti-graft court, in a special en banc session, did not find the magistrates’ reason compelling enough to grant their request.

Tang refused to say what the reasons were, but said that it was not due to pressure of any kind related to their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), or to threats to the lives of the justices.

In a press statement, via report over GMA News Online, Estrada welcomed the disposition of the Sandiganbayan en banc over the recusal request.

Estrada said that this means that his bail application, including the request for holiday furlough, can be resolved soon and decided upon without unwarranted delay.

In a one-page document submitted Monday to Tang, Justices Roland Jurado, Alexander Gesmundo and Ma. Theresa Dolores Estoesta requested to be relieved of handling Estrada’s case, report said.

Estrada is accused of diverting millions of pesos in his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to dubious non-government organizations for kickbacks.

He has denied the charges.

The senator is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Source: GMA News Online