The Office of the Ombudsman officially charged Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan with plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan on May 28. 

Several other high-ranking DPWH officials face identical indictments for their alleged involvement in a massive flood control scandal. 

Senator Estrada immediately fired back, announcing that his legal team is already preparing to exhaust all legal remedies to contest the case. 

The lawmaker strongly asserted his innocence, highlighting a crucial Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) letter. 

According to the Senator, this official document proves he made no budget insertions in the 2025 national budget a vital piece of evidence he claims investigators conveniently ignored.

“Kabilang dito ang Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) letter na nagsasaad na walang anumang record na ako ay nagpasok ng anumang insertion sa 2025 national budget. Isa itong mahalagang ebidensya na tahasang pinapabulaanan ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa akin, subalit sadyang isinantabi.” Senator Estrada highlighted.

Estrada further slammed the agencies for violating his right to due process, claiming he was denied a fair opportunity to review the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Ombudsman resolutions before the charges were rushed to court. 

“Bukod dito, hindi ako nabigyan ng  pagkakataong makita at mapag-aralan nang maayos ang mga resolusyon ng Department of Justice (DOJ) at Ombudsman upang makapaghain ng kaukulang paliwanag o Motion for Reconsideration bago isinampa ang kaso sa Sandiganbayan. Ang ganitong labis at hindi makatuwirang proseso ay may seryosong implikasyon sa aking right to due process.” The senator added.

He questioned the "railroaded" process, pointing out that the Ombudsman filed the case barely a week after the DOJ issued its resolution, altogether skipping its own independent fact-finding investigation despite earlier promises of a thorough review.

“Barely a week after the DOJ issued its Resolution in my case, agad nagsampa ng kaso ang Ombudsman nang hindi nagsasagawa ng sarili nitong masusi at independent fact-finding investigation. Sa ilalim ng umiiral na proseso, mahalagang bahagi ang fact-finding investigation bago magsampa ng kaso sa Sandiganbayan. Ito ay sa kabila ng naunang pahayag ng Ombudsman na magkakaroon ng “independent review and resolution on the merits of the case.” Batay sa mga pangyayari, malinaw na kailangang suriin kung naisakatuparan nga ang pahayag na ito.” Senator Estrada argued.

The veteran senator also raised political eyebrows by linking the sudden swiftness of the case to recent shifts in the local political landscape. 

“Kapanasin-pansin din na, mula nang magpalit ng liderato sa Senado, naging mabilis ang pag-usad ng mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng ilang miyembro ng majority bloc.” Senator Estrada pointed out.

He concluded by stating that if facing these charges is the price he must pay for standing by his principles, he is fully prepared to clear his name in the proper legal forum.

“As I have said before, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing by my principles and for what I believe in, then so be it. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang paghahanap ng katotohanan at ang pagtatanggol sa aking pangalan sa tamang forum at alinsunod sa batas.” The Senator concluded.