7/21/2019 Plunder: Estrada

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/plunder-estrada 1/5

People of the Philippines vs. Joseph Ejercito Estrada, et al. (Sandiganbayan, Criminal CaseNo. 2!!" #for Pl$nder%, &2 September 2'')

By: Atty.Fred | September 13, 2007 in Criminal Law, Obiter/ew! 1 "eply | "elated p#!t! at t$e b#tt#m #% arti&le(This is a digest of the Plunder Case against former President Joseph Estrada, Senator Jinngoy Estradaand Atty. Edward Serapio. The ndings of facts will e co!ered in suse"uent posts.#

*+SC -+CSOn ' April 2001, an (n%#rmati#n %#r pl)nder wa! *led a+ain!t %#rmer re!ident -#!ep$ er&it# !tradaFre!. !trada4, t#+et$er wit$ -#!e -in++#y !trada, C$arlie 5At#n+ An+, dwardSerapi#, 6#landa . "i&a%#rte, Alma Al%ar#, le)teri# an, a.8.a. le)teri# "am#! an #r 9r. y, -ane ;#ea.8.a. ;elia "aa!, and -#$n < -ane ;#e!, %#r t$e &rime #% l)nder de*ned and penali=ed )nder ".A. #.70>0, a! amended by Se&. 12 #% ".A. #. 7?@. $e (n%#rmati#n wa! !)b!e)ently amended, a! %#ll#w!:

 A$E%&E& '%)*$AT')%The undersigned )mudsman Prosecutor and )'C+&irector, EP', )-ce of the )mudsman, herey accuses former P*ES'&E%T ) TE P'/'PP'%ES, Joseph E0ercito Estrada a.1.a. 234AS')%5 SA/)%5A23 

 A%& a.1.a. 234J)SE 6E/A*&E23 , together with Jose 237Jinggoy238 Estrada, Charlie 234Atong23  Ang,Edward Serapio, 9olanda T. *icaforte, Alma Alfaro, J)% &)E a.1.a. Eleuterio Tan )* Eleuterio *amos Tan

or $r. :y, Jane &oe a.1.a. &elia *a0as, and John &)ES ; Jane &oes, of the crime of Plunder, dened and penali<ed under *.A. %o. =>?>, as amended y Sec. @ of *.A. %o. =BD, committed as follows

That during the period from June, @DD? to January, >>@, in the Philippines, and within the 0urisdiction of this onorale Court, accused Joseph E0ercito Estrada, TE% A P:/'C )'CE*, E'%5 TE% TEP*ES'&E%T ) TE *EP:/'C ) TE P'/'PP'%ES, y himself A%&F)* in C)%%'6A%CEFC)%SP'*AC9 withhis co+accused, G) A*E $E$E*S ) 'S A$'/9, *E/AT'6ES 9 A'%'T9 )* C)%SA%5:'%'T9,:S'%ESS ASS)C'ATES, S:)*&'%ATES A%&F)* )TE* PE*S)%S, 9 TAH'%5 :%&:E A&6A%TA5E ) 'S )'C'A/ P)S'T')%, A:T)*'T9, *E/AT')%S'P, C)%%ECT')%, )* '%/:E%CE, did then and therewillfully, unlawfully and criminally amass, accumulate and ac"uire 9 '$SE/, &'*ECT/9 )* '%&'*ECT/9,ill+gotten wealth in the aggregate amount )* T)TA/ 6A/:E of ):* '//')% %'%ET9 SE6E% $'//')%E'5T :%&*E& ):* T):SA%& )%E :%&*E& SE6E%T9 T*EE PES)S A%& SE6E%TEE% CE%TA6)S

IP,>D=,?>,@=K.@=L, more or less, TE*E9 :%J:ST/9 E%*'C'%5 '$SE/ )* TE$SE/6ES AT TEEMPE%SE A%& T) TE &A$A5E ) TE '/'P'%) PE)P/E A%& TE *EP:/'C ) TE P'/'PP'%ES,through A%9 )* A comination )* A series of o!ert )* criminal acts, )* S'$'/A* SCE$ES )* $EA%S,descried as follows

(a# y recei!ing )* collecting, directly or indirectly, on SE6E*A/ '%STA%CES, $)%E9 '% TE A55*E5ATE A$):%T ) '6E :%&*E& )*T9+'6E $'//')% PES)S (P,>>>,>>>.>>#, $)*E )* /ESS, *)$'//E5A/ 5A$/'%5 '% TE )*$ ) 5'T, SA*E, PE*CE%TA5E, H'CHACH )* A%9 )*$ ) PEC:%'A*9 E%E'T, 9 '$SE/ A%&F)* in conni!ance with co+accused CA*/'E 237AT)%5238 A%5, J)SE237Jinggoy238 Estrada, 9olanda T. *icaforte, Edward Serapio, A%& J)% &)ES A%& JA%E &)ES, inconsideration ) T)/E*AT')% )* P*)TECT')% ) '//E5A/ 5A$/'%5N

(# y &'6E*T'%5, *ECE'6'%5, misappropriating, con!erting )* misusing &'*ECT/9 )* '%&'*ECT/9, for 'S )* TE'* PE*S)%A/ gain and enet, pulic funds in the amount of )%E :%&*E& T'*T9 $'//')%PES)S IP@K>,>>>,>>>.>>L, more or less, representing a portion of the TG) :%&*E& $'//')% PES)SIP>>,>>>,>>>.>>L toacco eOcise taO share allocated for the Pro!ince of 'locos Sur under *.A. %o. =@=@,9 '$SE/ A%&F)* in C)%%'6A%CE with co+accused Charlie 237Atong238 Ang, Alma Alfaro, J)% &)Ea.1.a. Eleuterio Tan )* Eleuterio *amos Tan or $r. :y, and Jane &oe a.1.a. &elia *a0as, A%& )TE* J)%&)ES A%& JA%E &)ESN

(c# y directing, ordering and compelling, )* 'S PE*S)%A/ 5A'% A%& E%E'T, the 5o!ernment Ser!ice 'nsurance System (5S'S# T) P:*CASE, K@,?=?,>>> SA*ES ) ST)CHS, $)*E )* /ESS, andthe Social Security System (SSS#, KD,?,>>> SA*ES ) ST)CH, $)*E )* /ESS, ) TE E//EC)*P)*AT')% '% TE A$):%T ) $)*E )* /ESS )%E '//')% )%E :%&*E& TG) $'//')% %'%E:%&*E& S'MT9 '6E T):SA%& S'M :%&*E& SE6E% PES)S A%& 'T9 CE%TA6)S

IP@,@>,DB,B>=.>L A%& $)*E )* /ESS SE6E% :%&*E& )*T9 ):* $'//')% S'M :%&*E& TGE/6ET):SA%& A%& ):* :%&*E& 'T9 PES)S IP=,B@,>.>>L, *ESPECT'6E/9, )* A T)TA/ ) $)*E)* /ESS )%E '//')% E'5T :%&*E& )*T9 SE6E% $'//')% '6E :%&*E& SE6E%T9 E'5T T):SA%& 'T9 SE6E% PES)S A%& 'T9 CE%TA6)S IP@,?=,=?,>=.>LN A%& 9 C)//ECT'%5 )**ECE'6'%5, &'*ECT/9 )* '%&'*ECT/9, 9 '$SE/ A%&F)* '% C)%%'6A%CE G'T J)% &)ES A%& JA%E&)ES, C)$$'SS')%S )* PE*CE%TA5ES 9 *EAS)% ) SA'& P:*CASES ) SA*ES ) ST)CH '% TE

 A$):%T ) )%E :%&*E& E'5T9 %'%E $'//')% SE6E% :%&*E& T):SA%& PES)SIP@?D,=>>,>>>.>>L, $)*E )* /ESS, *)$ TE E//E C)*P)*AT')% G'C ECA$E PA*T ) TE&EP)S'T '% TE E:'TA/E+PC' A%H :%&E* TE ACC):%T %A$E 234J)SE 6E/A*&E23  N

(d# y un0ustly enriching himself *)$ C)$$'SS')%S, 5'TS, SA*ES, PE*CE%TA5ES, H'CHACHS, )* A%9 )*$ ) PEC:%'A*9 E%E'TS, '% C)%%'6A%CE G'T J)% &)ES A%& JA%E &)ES, in the amount of $)*E )* /ESS T*EE '//')% TG) %&*E& T'*T9 T*EE $'//')% )%E :%&*E& ):*T):SA%& A%& )%E :%&*E& SE6E%T9 T*EE PES)S A%& SE6E%TEE% CE%TA6)SIPK,KK,@>,@=K.@=L A%& &EP)S'T'%5 TE SA$E :%&E* 'S ACC):%T %A$E 234J)SE 6E/A*&E23  AT TE E:'TA/E+PC' A%H.

7/21/2019 Plunder: Estrada

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/plunder-estrada 2/5

C)%T*A*9 T) /AG.

A%ter t$e pr#!e&)ti#n *ni!$ed pre!entin+ it! eiden&e, Fre!. !trada *led, wit$ leae #% &#)rt, adem)rrer t# eiden&e. $e dem)rrer, $#weer, wa! denied by t$e &#)rt. A&&)!ed Serapi# #pted n#t t#pre!ent $i! #wn eiden&e, and in!tead ad#pted t$e eiden&e pre!ented by Fre!. !trada and -in++#y!trada.

(n&identally, in 2007, t$e Sandi+anbayan appr#ed t$e lea Bar+ainin+ A+reement between t$epr#!e&)ti#n and a&&)!ed At#n+ An+, t$e latter pleadin+ +)ilty t# a le!!er #Den!e #% C#rr)pti#n #% )bli&

OE&ial! )nder Arti&le 212 in relati#n t# Arti&le 211 #% t$e "ei!ed enal C#de. A&&)!ed At#n+ An+ wa!!enten&ed t# tw# year! and %#)r m#nt$! #% pri!i#n &#rre&&i#nal minim)m, a! minim)m, t# !i year! #% pri!i#n &#rre&&i#nal maim)m, a! maim)m, and t# pay t$e am#)nt #% 2@,000,000.00 t# t$eG#ernment a! $i! &iil liability. A&&)!ed At#n+ An+ i! n#w #)t #% ail )nder pr#bati#n.

/01N 3- 4E C30/ $e element! #% t$e &rime #% pl)nder, p)r!)ant t# "A 70>0 and a! laid d#wn by t$e S)preme C#)rt in t$eearlier &a!e #% Joseph E0ercito Estrada !s. Sandiganayan G.". #. 1'>@?0, 1 #ember 20014, are a!%#ll#w!:

(@# That the oQender is a pulic o-cer who acts y himself or in conni!ance with memers of his family,relati!es y a-nity or consanguinity, usiness associates, suordinates or other personsN

(# That he amassed, accumulated or ac"uired ill+gotten wealth through a comination or series of thefollowing o!ert or criminal acts descried in Section @ (d# of *.A. %o. =>?> as amendedN and

(K# That the aggregate amount or total !alue of the ill+gotten wealth amassed, accumulated or ac"uiredis at least P>,>>>,>>>.>>.

 $e term! C#mbinati#n  and Serie!  were li8ewi!e de*ned in t$e ab#eH&ited &a!e.C#mbinati#n re%er! t# at lea!t tw# a&t! %allin+ )nder diDerent &ate+#rie! #% en)merati#n pr#idedin Se&. 1, par. d4, e.+., raid! #n t$e p)bli& trea!)ry in Se&.1, par. d4, !)bpar. 14, and %ra)d)lent&#neyan&e #% a!!et! bel#n+in+! t# t$e ati#nal G#ernment )nder Se&.1, par. d4, !)bpar. 34. On t$e#t$er $and, t# &#n!tit)te a !erie!, t$ere m)!t be tw# #r m#re #ert #r &riminal a&t! %allin+ )nder

t$e !ame &ate+#ry #% en)merati#n %#)nd in Se&. 1, par. d4, !ay, mi!appr#priati#n, maler!ati#n andraid! #n t$e p)bli& trea!)ry, all #% w$i&$ %all )nder Se&. 1, par. d4, !)bpar. 14.

Se&ti#n 1 d4 read!:

'll+gotten wealth means any asset, property, usiness enterprise or material possession of any personwithin the pur!iew of Section Two (# hereof, ac"uired y him directly or in directly through dummies,nominees, agents, suordinates andFor usiness associates y any comination or series of the followingmeans or similar schemes@# Through misappropriation, con!ersation, misuse, or mal!ersation of pulic funds or raids on the pulictreasuryN# y recei!ing, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share, percentage, 1ic1ac1s or any other 

form of pecuniary enet from any person andF or entity in connection with any go!ernment contract or  pro0ect or y reason of the o-ce or position of the pulic o-cer concernedNK# y the illegal or fraudulent con!eyance or disposition of asset elonging to the %ational 5o!ernment or any of its sudi!ision, agencies or instrumentalities or go!ernment+owned or 23Rcontrolledcorporations and their susidiariesN# y otaining, recei!ing or accepting directly or indirectly any shares of stoc1, e"uity or any other formof interest or participation including promises of future employment in any usiness enterprise or underta1ingN# y estalishing agricultural, industrial or commercial monopolies or other cominations andFor implementation of decrees and orders intended to enet particular persons or special interestsN or B# y ta1ing undue ad!antage of o-cial position, authority, relationship, connection or inuence toun0ustly enrich himself or themsel!es at the eOpense and to the damage and pre0udice of the ilipino

 people and the *epulic of the Philippines.

 $e pr#!e&)ti#n $a! pr#en bey#nd rea!#nable d#)bt t$e element! #% pl)nder a! a+ain!t %#rmerre!ident !trada, t$)!:

(a# The principal accused Joseph E0ercito Estrada, at the time of the commission of the acts charged inthe Amended 'nformation was the President of the *epulic of the PhilippinesN

(# e acted in conni!ance with then 5o!ernor /uis 234Cha!it23   Singson, who was granted immunity from suit y the )-ce of the )mudsman, and with the participation of other persons named y 

 prosecution witnesses in the course of the trial of this case, in amassing, accumulating and ac"uiring ill+gotten wealth as follows

(i# y a series of acts of recei!ing i+monthly collections from 2340ueteng23 , a form of illegal gamling,

during the period eginning %o!emer @DD? to August >>> in the aggregate amount of P,D@,>>>.>>. )ut of this amount, P>>,>>>,>>>.>> was deposited in the Erap $uslim 9outhoundationN and

7/21/2019 Plunder: Estrada

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/plunder-estrada 3/5

(ii# y a series consisting of two acts of ordering the 5S'S and the SSS to purchase shares of stoc1 of elle Corporation and collecting or recei!ing commission from the sales of elle Shares in the amount of P@?D,=>>,>>>.>> which was deposited in the Jose 6elarde account.

 $e!e tw# a&t! I i4 and ii4 I &#rre!p#nd t# !)bHpara+rap$! a4 and &4 #% t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n.J#weer, t$ere i! )n&ertainty a! t# t$e parti&ipati#n #% -in++#y !trada and Serapi# in t$e alle+ati#n!)nder !)bHpara+rap$ a4 #% t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n b#t$ are n#t in&l)ded in !)bHpara+rap$ K& #% t$eAmended (n%#rmati#n4.

Mit$ re!pe&t t# -in++#y !trada, t$ere wa! n# eiden&e t$at t$e m#ney $e t)rned #er t# G#. Sin+!#n #rt$e latterN! repre!entatie! wa! part #% t$e )eten+ pr#te&ti#n m#ney &#lle&ted %r#m B)la&an #r t$at$e re&eied %)nd! %r#m a &ertain i&e#. $e pr#!e&)ti#n did n#t al!# reb)t t$e ban8 &erti*&ati#npre!ented by t$e de%en!e t$at -in++#y !trada did n#t $ae an a&&#)nt wit$ t$e nited Oer!ea! Ban8,di!pr#in+ t$e te!tim#ny #% mma Lim t$at t$e dep#!it !lip in t$e am#)nt !aid t# be part #% )eten+m#ney wa! t)rned #er t# $er by -in++#y !trada %r#m $i! a&&#)nt at t$e nited Oer!ea! Ban8. $e+ap! in t$e pr#!e&)ti#nN! eiden&e a! t# -in++#y !trada &reate )n&ertainty in t$e mind #% t$e C#)rta! t# t$e parti&ipati#n #% -in++#y !trada in t$e &#lle&ti#n and re&eipt #% )eten+ m#ney.

Mit$ re!pe&t t# Serapi#, neit$er G#. C$ait Sin+!#nN! te!tim#ny n#r t$e led+er entrie! pr#ed t$atSerapi# wa! in#led in any way in t$e &#lle&ti#n #r di!b)r!ement #% )eten+ pr#te&ti#n m#ney. (t i!diE&)lt t# pre!)me any &riminal intent #n t$e part #% Serapi# t# &#n&eal #r la)nder )eten+ pr#te&ti#n

m#ney in #rder t# &#ntrib)te t# t$e ama!!in+ and a&&)m)lati#n #% illH+#tten wealt$ by Fre!. !trada in&#nne&ti#n wit$ t$e tran!%er #% t$e 200,000,000.00 t# t$e rap 9)!lim 6#)t$ F#)ndati#n.

On t$e #t$er $and, t$e pr#!e&)ti#n %ailed t# e!tabli!$ bey#nd rea!#nable d#)bt t$e alle+ati#n! )nder!)bHpara+rap$ b4 and d4 #% t$e amended (n%#rmati#n:

@. Acts under su+paragraph (# of the Amended 'nformation. Gith respect to the act of di!esting,recei!ing or misappropriating a portion of the toacco eOcise taO share allocated for the Pro!ince of 'locos Sur, the paper trail in relation to the P@K>,>>>,>>>.>> di!erted toacco eOcise taOes egan with5o!. Singson and ended with Atong Ang. This Court does not nd the e!idence su-cient to estalisheyond reasonale dout that Pres. Estrada or any memer of his family had instigated andFor eneted from the di!ersion of said funds. The prosecution failed to pro!e, eyond reasonale dout,who among the accused eneted from the misappropriation of the eOcise taO share of 'locos Sur and inwhat amounts.

. Acts under su+paragraph (d# of the Amended 'nformation. Ghile the prosecution presentedo!erwhelming e!idence that there were numerous deposits of astoundingly large sums of money intothe Jose 6elarde account, it failed to pro!e the predicate actFs as dened under Section @(d# of *.A. %o.=>?> through which the said deposits could ha!e een ac"uired or amassed, eOcept for the amount of P@?D,=>>,>>>.>>, representing illegal commissions from the sales of elle shares and the money collected from illegal gamling. 't is not per se the accumulation of wealth which is proscried y the

 Anti+Plunder /aw. The ac"uisition of wealth of not less than P>,>>>,>>>.>> must e lin1ed to thecommission of o!ert or criminal acts falling within the amit of the said law. All that the prosecution hassucceeded in showing is that the Jose 6elarde account is the repository or receptacle of !ast wealthelonging to Pres. Estrada.

J#weer, t$e tw# diDerent !erie! #% predi&ate a&t! #)tlined ab#e parti&)larly, *r!t, t$e re+)lar andmet$#di&al a&)i!iti#n #% illH+#tten wealt$ t$r#)+$ &#lle&ti#n! %r#m ille+al +amblin+, and, !e&#nd, t$ere&eipt #% )nlaw%)l &#mmi!!i#n! %r#m t$e !ale! #% Belle !$are! twi&e4, w$et$er ta8en !eparately #rindependently #% t$e #t$er #r in &#mbinati#n wit$ ea&$ #t$er, )n)e!ti#nably &#n!tit)te t$e &rime #% pl)nder a! de*ned by Se&ti#n 2, in relati#n t# Se&ti#n 1d4 #% "A 70>0 a! amended.

A pattern wa! e!tabli!$ed by t$e &are%)lly planned !y!tem #% )eten+ m#ney &#lle&ti#n #n a re+)lar biHm#nt$ly ba!i! %r#m t$e dDerent pr#in&e! nati#nwide t# enri&$ Fre!. !trada wit$ t$e &#nnian&e and/#rparti&ipati#n #% G#. Sin+!#n, 6#landa "i&a%#rte, mma Lim, Carmen&ita (t&$#n, SO2 Artate!, -ami!Sin+!#n and #t$er )eten+ &#lle&t#r! re%erred t# in t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n a! -#$n ;#e! and-ane ;#e!. A! pr#en, t$e &#lle&ti#n! in !eeral in!tan&e! %r#m ille+al +amblin+ m#neywent way bey#nd t$e minim)m #% @0,000,000.00 !et by t$e AntiHl)nder Law. $e!e repeated

&#lle&ti#n! #% )eten+ m#ney %r#m #ember 1> t# A)+)!t 2000 w#)ld %all wit$in t$e p)riew #% a!erie! #% ille+al a&t! &#n!tit)tin+ pl)nder. $e !aid !erie! #% a&t!, #n it! #wn, w#)ld $ae been!)E&ient t# &#ni&t t$e prin&ipal a&&)!ed, Fre!. !trada. J#weer, t$i! C#)rt al!# *nd! t$at Fre!.!trada i! &riminally liable %#r pl)nder %#r re&eiin+ &#mmi!!i#n! %r#m t$e p)r&$a!e #% Belle S$are! byt$e GS(S and by t$e SSS in +rae ab)!e #% $i! p#wer #n tw# !eparate #&&a!i#n! a! &$ar+ed in !)bHpara+rap$ b4 #% t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n. Clearly, t$e re&eipt #% t$e!e &#mmi!!i#n! #n tw# #&&a!i#n!li8ewi!e meet! t$e de*niti#n #% a !erie! #% tw# !imilar )nlaw%)l a&t! empl#yin+ t$e !ame !&$eme t#a&&)m)late illH+#tten wealt$.

(t i! )nne&e!!ary t# ind)l+e in an ep#!iti#n #% w$et$er t$e tw# !erie! #% a&t! %allin+ )nder !)bHpara+rap$! a4 and &4 #% t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n, pr#en in t$e &#)r!e #% t$e trial &#)ld $aeam#)nted t# tw# 24 &#)nt! #% pl)nder. (t w#)ld be a p)rely a&ademi& eer&i!e, a! t$e a&&)!ed &ann#t be&#ni&ted #% tw# #Den!e! #r tw# &#)nt! #% pl)nder #n t$e ba!i! #% a !in+le (n%#rmati#n, &learly &$ar+in+$im #% #nly #ne &#)nt #% pl)nder, be&a)!e t$at w#)ld i#late $i! &#n!tit)ti#nal ri+$t! t# d)e pr#&e!!,+ien t$e !eerity #% t$e &rime &$ar+ed in t$i! &a!e.

7/21/2019 Plunder: Estrada

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/plunder-estrada 4/5

 $e predi&ate a&t! alle+ed in !)bHpara+rap$! a4 and &4 #% t$e Amended (n%#rmati#n, w$i&$ %#rmed tw#!eparate !erie! #% a&t! #% a diDerent nat)re, were lin8ed by t$e %a&t t$at t$ey were plainly +earedt#ward! a &#mm#n +#al w$i&$ wa! t$e a&&)m)lati#n #% illH+#tten wealt$ %#r Fre!. !trada and t$at t$ey!$ared a pattern #r a &#mm#n met$#d #% &#mmi!!i#n w$i&$ wa! t$e ab)!e #r mi!)!e #% t$e $i+$a)t$#rity #r p#wer #% t$e re!iden&y.

(n !)m, t$e C#)rt *nd! t$at pr#!e&)ti#n $a! pr#en bey#nd rea!#nable d#)bt t$e &#mmi!!i#n by t$eprin&ipal a&&)!ed %#rmer re!ident -#!ep$ er&it# !trada #% t$e &rime #% pl)nder b)t n#t !# in t$e &a!e#% %#rmer 9ay#r -#!e -in++#y !trada and Atty. dward Serapi#.

7/21/2019 Plunder: Estrada

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/plunder-estrada 5/5