Sandigan speeds up Jinggoy bail hearing

MANILA, Philippines - Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been given more hearing dates for his bail petition.

This was done so the Sandiganbayan will not be accused of causing a delay in the proceedings,  Fifth Division Chairman Roland Jurado said.

“We are being blamed for delaying the proceedings not only in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) cases,” he said. “We are doing our best to expedite everything.”

Jurado ordered the holding of hearings every Tuesday and Wednesday morning, apart from the regular Monday morning hearings.

However, hearings during these days should be limited to 45 minutes since the court has to accommodate other cases, he added.

Estrada is thankful to the court for taking action to speed up the proceedings of his plunder case.

“It is a welcome development for me because these bail hearings have been dragging on for one year and one month,” he said. “I appreciate the decision of the court.”

Estrada also aired sentiment for the court not to limit time of his hearings. “I just wish they do not cut my hearing time,” he said. “I wish they allot it exclusively for my bail hearing to speed up proceeding.” 

On July 24, the Third  Division also ordered more hearing dates for the bail petition of Estrada’s co-accused Janet Lim-Napoles.

The delay in the cases is not with them, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said in a television interview.

She proposed to the Sandiganbayan to set more  hearing dates to speed up the proceedings.