Sen. Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City for his arraignment on graft charges on Tuesday (June 2, 2026), which was reset to June 4 after co-accused former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan sought a postponement due to health concerns. (PNA photo by Robert Alfiler)
The Sandiganbayan has rescheduled the arraignment of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan to June 30 as the court weighs pending defense motions to quash.
The Fifth Division, through Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, issued the order after both camps filed pleadings seeking the dismissal of the criminal charges.
Estrada’s legal team earlier sought to have bail fixed, arguing that the prosecution’s evidence was not strong enough to justify continued detention.
But the court stressed that plunder is a non-bailable offense, punishable by reclusion perpetua, unless the evidence of guilt is found to be weak.
It ruled that arraignment must proceed first, followed by pretrial, before any bail-related petitions can be taken up.
Estrada’s camp later withdrew its motion to fix bail after the court rejected their position that it was separate from a standard bail petition.
DPWH engineers Denryl Caesar Cortuna, Manny Bulusan, and Arturo Gonzales Jr. meanwhile entered not guilty pleas during the hearing.
Bonoan was absent due to medical reasons, according to his counsel, while Estrada appeared in court as the case stems from alleged irregularities and kickbacks linked to flood control projects.
