The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has denied Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s request to attend the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a resolution dated July 9, the anti-graft court rejected Estrada’s June 29 motion seeking temporary release from detention so he could participate in the proceedings as a senator-judge.
Estrada argued that his presence was essential because the conviction of an impeachable official, including the vice president, requires the concurrence of two-thirds—or 16—of the 24 senators.
The Sandiganbayan, however, noted that the impeachment trial is scheduled three times a week, totaling 92 trial days and covering approximately 31 weeks.
The court said the lengthy and recurring schedule could not be considered an emergency or a compelling reason to justify the temporary release of a detainee.
Estrada, who is widely perceived to be part of the pro-Duterte bloc in the Senate, would have been among the senator-judges tasked with deciding whether to convict or acquit the vice president.
If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and permanently disqualified from holding any public position.
Duterte was also the first major political figure to publicly declare her intention to run for president in the next national elections.
Estrada is facing a non-bailable plunder case involving alleged illegal budget insertions and project allocations worth ₱573 million under the Department of Public Works and Highways’ infrastructure program for fiscal year 2025.