MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Second Division entered a not guilty plea for Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday after he declined to enter a plea during his arraignment on a graft charge stemming from an alleged infrastructure fund scheme.
Presiding Judge Geraldine Faith Econg, who chairs the Second Division, directed the entry of a not guilty plea after Estrada told the court he wished to remain silent when asked to plead.
The arraignment proceeded after the court denied an omnibus motion filed by Estrada’s camp, which included a motion to quash the case.
The court postponed the arraignment of Estrada’s co-accused, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, because he did not attend the proceedings. Bonoan remains hospitalized for hypertension, diabetes, and other medical conditions.
The graft charge is bailable. The court set bail at P90,000 each for Estrada and Bonoan.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the graft and plunder cases against Estrada, Bonoan, and other accused individuals arose from an alleged scheme involving illegal budget insertions and project allocations in the infrastructure portfolio of the Department of Public Works and Highways for fiscal year 2025.
Authorities took Estrada, Bonoan, and three former DPWH officials into custody after the court issued arrest warrants for plunder on Monday.
Plunder is a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment. Courts may grant bail only if they determine that the evidence of guilt is not strong.