SANDIGANBAYAN REJECTS ESTRADA’S REQUEST TO SET BAIL AMOUNT IN PLUNDER CASE

The Sandiganbayan denied Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s motion seeking to set an amount for his bail, ruling that the request was filed prematurely and lacked legal basis. The anti-graft court said Estrada must first submit a proper bail application and undergo the required hearing to determine whether he is entitled to temporary liberty. The court emphasized that setting a bail amount can only happen after a determination that the evidence of guilt is not strong enough to deny bail. Sandiganbayan also rejected Estrada’s attempt to rely on his previous plunder case, explaining that the earlier ruling cannot replace the mandatory bail hearing required by law. The decision reaffirmed that bail procedures must follow constitutional requirements and cannot be bypassed through a simple motion.