Senator Jinggoy Estrada has been acquitted of plunder charges related to the P10 billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, but found guilty of one count of direct bribery and two counts of indirect bribery in the P183 million pork barrel scam involving businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division sentenced him to 8-9 years for direct bribery and 2-3 years for indirect bribery.
While expressing gratitude for the acquittal on plunder charges, Senator Estrada expressed puzzlement over the guilty verdict for bribery, noting that there were no such charges in the information sheet.
The case, based on a Commission on Audit report from 2007 to 2009, concluded after a 10-year wait, contrasting with the 4-year litigation of a similar case involving Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 19, 2024
