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Read full text of:
Sandiganbayan Decision Convicting Former President Joseph E. Estrada of the Crime of Plunder
Sandiganbayan Decision Acquitting  Former President Joseph E. Estrada of the Felony of Perjury
Supreme Court Decision on the Legitimacy of the Arroyo Administration


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

SANDIGANBAYAN
Quezon City


SPECIAL DIVISION

  

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
                                                        Plaintiff,

 

                - versus -                                                                       CRIMINAL CASE NO. 26905
                                                                                                                        (For Perjury)
 

JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA,
                                               Accused.                  

PRESENT:                                 

DE CASTRO, PJ., Chairperson   

VILLARUZ, JR., and

PERALTA, JJ.

 

PROMULGATED:


September 12, 2007

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                                                                  D  E  C  I  S  I  O  N

 
The accused, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, is charged with the crime of Perjury defined in and penalized by Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code in an Amended Information docketed as Criminal Case No. 26905 which reads as follows:
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            “That on or about 29 April 1999, in the City of Manila, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-named accused, being then the President of the Republic of the Philippines, taking advantage of his official position and committing the offense in relation to office, being then required by law to file a Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth [SALN], did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously state in his SALN for the year ending 31 December 1998, which he executed under oath before a notary public and filed as required by R.A. 6713, that his total assets were P37,385,307.08 including P5,035,363.40 of “cash in hand and in bank,” and that this business interests were only in JELP Real Estate and Dev. Corp., J.E. Inc. and Feluisa Dev. Corp., which material statements are false and untruthful, as he had by then much more assets, including P57,106,201.40 cash in three (3) banks accounts alone, namely: P44,268,442.68 with Keppel Bank; P548,121.84 with ASIA UNITED Bank; and, P12,289,636.88 with Security Bank, as well as other corporate holdings and connections with the following corporations, namely, First LPL Land Syndication, Inc.; Asis-Ejercito Garments, Inc.; 24K International Food, Inc.; Alpha Funds, Inc.; Prime Entertainment for Television Production, Inc.; ADE Food, Inc.; Electronic Sentry Systems, Inc.; All Hot Soup, Inc.; F.E.L.T. Food Services.


            “CONTRARY TO LAW.”
 

            Before the Court acquired jurisdiction over the person of accused former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the Supreme Court, in Adm. Matter No. 02-1-07-SC, resolved to create a Special Division in the Sandiganbayan to hear, try and decide the Plunder case and all related cases against the said accused pursuant to the recommendation of the Oversight Committee of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court resolution was in response to the request of the Sandiganbayan that promulgated its Resolution No. 01-2002 on January 8 and 11, 2002 with respect to the Request for Re-Raffle of the defense counsel and the Opposition to Request for Re-Raffle of the Special Prosecution Panel.

            When the case was set for arraignment, accused former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada moved to reset the same and simultaneously filed a Motion to Quash on the following grounds, to wit: “1) the facts charged in the Information do not charge an offense; 2) the officer who prematurely filed the Information had no authority to do so; 3) the Information impermissibly charges more than one offense; and 4) it arbitrarily splits the complaint because of the persistence of the prosecution in disrespecting the interdiction that “[n]o person shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same offense,” while at the same time pursuing what it calls the “main charge for Plunder,” seeking disingenuously to deprive accused of the valuable right of invoking double jeopardy, “res judicata dressed in prison grey.”[1] chan robles virtual law library

          On March 6, 2002, the Court resolved to deny accused former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s Motion to Quash.  On the points raised by the accused in his Motion to Quash, the Court ruled[2] as follows:

“The information is not duplicitous.  It charges accused only of one offense – perjury.  This is evident in the title and body of the information.   The fact that the same mentions R.A. 6713 does not make it duplicitous.  As the Court sees, R.A. 6713 is mentioned only by way of reference to show compliance that the fourth element of the crime charged has been alleged in the information.chan robles virtual law library

“xxx                   xxx                     xxx.

“Section 3 of Rule 117 of the 2000 Rules of Criminal Procedure enumerates the grounds upon which an information or complaint may be quashed.  These grounds are exclusive and no other ground can be considered except those as mentioned in the aforecited section.  As splitting is not one of those specified in said section, we cannot consider it.

“xxx                    xxx                    xxx.

“On the ground of double jeopardy, the arguments of the accused fail to convince us of its presence.

“The requisites that must concur for a legal jeopardy to attach are: (a) a valid complaint or information; (b) a court of competent jurisdiction; (c) the accused has pleaded to the charge; and (d) the accused has been convicted or acquitted or the case dismissed or terminated without the express consent of the accused (Dela Rose vs. Ca, 253 SCRA 499).  In the instant case, the fourth element is noticeably lacking.  The first jeopardy has not yet attached, as there is no conviction, acquittal, dismissal or termination of the case without the consent of the accused to speak of.

“WHEREFORE, all the foregoing, the instant motion is DENIED for lack of merit.”


            Consequently, arraignment proceeded with accused, assisted by counsel de oficio, refusing to enter any plea.  Hence, in accordance with the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court entered a plea of “Not Guilty” on his behalf.  The case was then set for pre-trial conference and the prosecution and the accused were directed to file their corresponding pre-trial briefs on or before the said date.

            During the pre-trial conference on April 22, 2002, counsels de oficio for accused former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada reiterated their Manifestation filed during the pre-trial in Criminal Case No. 26565 (for Illegal Use of Alias) involving the same accused as follows:
chan robles virtuchanrobles virtual law libraryal law library


            “A.        Facts of the case 

                        “x x x 

“They are not in a position to intelligently enter into any stipulation or admission because the accused does not want to be represented by any counsel hence, they were not able to confer with him regarding this case.

            “B.       Testimonial and Documentary Evidence

“The undersigned hereby respectfully manifest that at this time, they cannot make proper listing of witnesses and documentary exhibits because of non-cooperation of the accused.

            “C.       Defense

“Also the undersigned are not in a position to state the defense because of the non-conference of the accused.


            On the other hand, the prosecution marked the following documentary exhibits:


                EXHIBITS                                DESCRIPTION

 

“A”                   Sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of
                         accused Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Luisa P. Ejercito as of
                         31 December 1998


 

“B”                   Certified True Copy (CTC) of Keppel Bank Signature Card
                         of Account No. 6007-005-7-9 of accused Joseph Ejercito Estrada
                         dated 10 August 1990


 

“B-1”                Keppel Bank Statement of Account No. 6007-00057-9

 

“B-2”                Certification of Balance of Account No. 6007-00057-9
                          as of 31 December 1998


 

“C”                    Security Bank Signature Card of Account
                          Nos. 0091-203796-550, 0091-203796-554,
                          and 0091-203796-559 of accused Estrada


 

“C-1”                 CTC of Security bank Passbook No. 544552

 

“C-2”                CTC of Investment Savings Account (ISA) agreement
                          of Security bank dated 21 April 1998


 

“C-3”                CTC of ISA agreement dated 21 May 1998chan robles virtual law library

 

“C-4”                CTC of ISA agreement dated 22 June 1998

 

“C-5”                CTC of ISA agreement dated 23 September 1998

 

“C-6”                CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 26 October 1998
                          to 25 November 1998


 

“C-7”                CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 28 December 1998
                         to November 1999


 

“C-8”                CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 7 January 2000
                          to 11 December 2000


 

“C-9”                CTC of Confirmation of Sale (CS) No. 82384

 

“C-10”              CTC of CS No. 83099

 

“C-11”               CTC of CS No. 83952

 

“C-12”              CTC of CS No. 85007

 

“C-13”              CTC of Cs No. 85571

 

“C-14”              CTC of CS No. 85761

 

“C-15”              CTC of CS No. 86099

 

“C-16”              CTC of Security Bank confirmation of Sale No. 81046 dated 10 April 1997

 

“C-17”              CTC of Security Bank Passbook No. 544581

 

“C-18”              CTC of ISA agreement dated 29 April 1998

 

“C-19”              CTC of ISA agreement dated 2 October 1998

 

“C-20”              CTC of ISA ledger as of 3 November 1998

 

“C-21”              CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 3 December 1998 to 11 November 1999

 

“C-22”               CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 13 December 1999
                          to 17 November 2000


 

“C-23”               CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 19 December 2000
                           to 18 January 2001


 

“C-24”              CTC of Transaction History Enquiry of Account No. 0091-203796-554
                          dated 12 February 2001


 

“C-25”              CTC of Security Bank Passbook No. 580913chan robles virtual law library

 

“C-26”              CTC of ISA agreement dated 8 June 1998

 

“C-27”              CTC of ISA agreement dated 7 October 1998

 

“C-28”              CTC of ISA ledger as of 6 November 1998

 

“C-29”              CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 9 December 1998
                          to 15 November 1999


 

“C-30”              CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 15 December 1999
                          to 17 November 2000


 

“C-31”               CTC of ISA ledger covering the period from 19 December 2000
                          to 18 January 2001


 

“C-32”              CTC of Transaction History Enquiry of Account No. 0091-203796-59

 

“C-33”              Affidavit of Eunice Cuyu-Domingo

 

“C-34”              Photocopy of Security Bank ISA placement

 

“D”                   CTC of Signature Card of Asia United Bank (AUB)
                         Account No. 001-01-000588-8 of accused Estrada


 

“D-1”                CTC of Customer Information Sheet of AUB Account No.
                          001-01-00588-8 dated 3 November 1999


 

“D-2”                CTC of Statement of Account of AUB Account No. 001-01-000588-8

 

“D-3”                Certification of Balance of AUB Account No. 001-01-000588-8
                          as of 31 December 1998


 

“G”                   Certificate of Registration of First LPL Land Syndication, Inc.
                         dated 21 July 1995


 

“G-1”                Articles of Incorporation of First LPL Land Syndication, Inc.
                          dated 14 July 1995 consisting of eleven (11) pages


 

“G-1-a”            Name of Dra. Luisa Ejercito with the corresponding number of
                         subscribed shares thirty-five thousand seven hundred fourteen
                         (35,714) amounting to Three Million Five Hundred Seventy-one
                        Thousand Four Hundred (P3,571,400) Pesos on page 6 of Exhibit “G-1”


 

“G-1-b”            Name of Dra. Luisa Ejercito with the corresponding paid-up
                         amount of One Million (P1,000,000.00) Pesos on page 7 of Exh. “G-1”


 

“G-1-c”            Signature of Dra. Luisa Ejercito on page 8 of Exh. “G-1”chanrobles virtual law library

 

“G-2”                By-Laws of First LPL Land Syndication, Inc. dated 14 July 1995
                          consisting of thirteen (13) pages


 

“G-2-a”            Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito on page 13 of Exh. “G-2”

 

“H”                   Certificate of Registration of Asis-Ejercito Garments, Inc.
                          dated 24 September 1990


 

“H-1”                Articles of Incorporation of Asis-Ejercito Garments, Inc. dated
                          10 September 1990 consisting of eleven (11) pages


 

“H-1-a”             Name of Jacqueline P. Ejercito with the corresponding number
                          of subscribed shares six hundred ten (610) amounting to
                          Sixty-one Thousand (P61,000.00) Pesos appearing on page 6 of Exh. “I-1”


 

“H-1-b”            Name of Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding number of
                          subscribed shares amounting to one thousand (P1,000.00) Pesos
                          appearing on page 6 of Exh. “I-1”


 

“H-1-c”             Name of Jacqueline P. Ejercito with the corresponding amount
                          paid-up of Fifteen Thousand Two Hundred fifty (P15,250.00)
                          Pesos appearing on page 7 of Exh. “I-1”


 

“H-1-e”             Signature of Jacqueline P. Ejercito appearing on page 8 of Exh. “I-1”

 

“H-1-f”              Signature of Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 8 of Exh. “I-1”

 

“H-2”                By-Laws of Asis-Ejercito Garments, Inc. dated 10 September 1990
                           consisting of thirteen (13) pages


 

“H-2-a”             Signature of Jacqueline P. Ejercito appearing on page 13 of Exh. “I-2”

 

“H-2-b”             Signature of Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 13 of Exh. “I_2”chan robles virtual law library

 

“I”                     Certificate of Registration of 24 K International Food, Inc. dated 4 May 1988

 

“I-1”                  Articles of Incorporation of 24 K International Food, Inc. dated
                          22 April 1988 consisting of nine (9) pages


 

“I-1-a”              Name of Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding number
                         of subscribed shares of one thousand (1,000) amounting to
                         One Hundred Thousand (P100,000.00) Pesos appearing
                         on page 5 of Exh. “K-1”


 

“I-1-b”              Name of Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding paid-up
                          amount of Twenty-five Thousand (P25,000.00) Pesos
                          appearing on page 6of Exh. “K-1”


 

“I-1-c”              Signature of Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 6 of Exh. “K-1”

 

“I-2”                 By-laws of 24 K International Food, Inc. dated 22 April 1988
                          consisting of seventeen (17) pages


 

“I-2-a”              Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 17 of Exh. “K-2”

 

“J”                    Certificate of Registration of Alpha Funds, Inc. dated 6 October 1987

 

“J-1”                 Articles of Incorporation of Alpha Funds, Inc.
                          dated 7 September 1987 consisting of eleven (11) pages


 

“J-1-a”             Name of accused Estrada with the corresponding subscribed amount
                         of One Million (P1,000,000.00) Pesos out of which
                        Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (P250,000.00) Pesos was paid-up
                         appearing on page 7 of Exh. “L-1”


 

“J-1-b”             Signature of accused Estrada appearing on page 9 of Exh. “L-1”

 

“J-2”                 By-laws of Alpha Funds, Inc. dated 7 September 1987 consisting
                          of nineteen (19) pages


 

“J-2-a”             Signature of accused Estrada appearing on page 18 of Exh. “L-2”

 

“K”                   Certificate of Registration of Primetime Entertainment for Television
                         (Pentel) Productions, Inc. dated 26 September 1986


 

“K-1”                Articles of Incorporation of Primetime Entertainment for Television
                         (Pentel) Productions, Inc. dated 8 September 1986 consisting
                         of seven 97) pages


 

“K-1-a”            Name of Jinggoy Estrada with the corresponding number
                         of subscribed shares of five hundred eighty (580) amounting
                         to Fifty-eight Thousand (P58,000.00) Pesos appearing
                         on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-b”            Name of Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding number of
                         subscribed shares of twenty (20) amounting to Two Thousand
                         (P2,000.00) Pesos appearing on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-c”             Name of Jacqueline Ejercito with the corresponding number of
                          subscribed shares twenty (20) amounting to Two Thousand (P2,000.00)
                         Pesos appearing on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-d”            Name of Jinggoy Estrada with the corresponding paid-up amount
                         of Fourteen Thousand five Hundred (P14,500.00) Pesos appearing
                         on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-e”            Name of Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding paid-up amount
                         of Five Hundred (P500.00) Pesos appearing on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-f”             Name of Jacqueline Ejercito with the corresponding paid-up amount
                         of Five Hundred (P500.00) Pesos appearing on page 4 of Exh. “M-1”


 

“K-1-g”             Signature of Jinggoy Estrada appearing on page 5 of Exh. “M-1”

 

“K-1-h”             Signature of Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 5 of Exh. “M-1”

 

“K-1-i”              Signature of Jacqueline Ejercito appearing on page 5 of Exh. “M-1”

 

“K-2”                By-laws of Primetime Entertainment for Television (Pentel) Productions,
                          Inc. dated 8 September 1986 consisting of seven (7) pages


 

“K-2-a”             Signature of Jinggoy Estrada appearing on page 7 of Exh. “M-2”

 

“K-2-b”             Signature of Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 7 of Exh. “M-2”

 

“K-2-c”             Signature of Jacqueline Ejercito appearing on page 7 of Exh. “M-2”

 

“”L”                  Certificate of Incorporation of A D E Food, Inc. dated 2 August 1984

 

“L-1”                Articles of Incorporation of A D E  Food, Inc. dated 13 July 1984
                         consisting of ten (10) pages


 

“L-1-a”             Name of accused Estrada with the corresponding number of subscribed
                         shares four hundred twenty-five (425) amounting to Forty-two
                         Thousand Five Hundred (P42,500.00) Pesos out of which
                         Seventeen Thousand (P17,000.00) Pesos was paid-up
                         appearing on page 7 of Exh. “N-1”


 

“L-1-b”             Name of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito with the number of subscribed
                          shares four hundred twenty-five (425) amounting to Forty-two
                          Thousand Five Hundred (P42,500.00) Pesos out of which Seventeen
                         Thousand (P17,000.00) Pesos was paid-up appearing on page 7 of Exh. “N-1”


 

“L-1-c”             Signature of accused Estrada appearing on page 8 of Exh. “N-1”

 

“L-1-d”             Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 8 of Exh. “N-1”

 

“L-2”                By-laws of A D E Food, Inc. dated 13 July 1984 consisting of eight (8) pages

 

“L-2-a”             Signature of accused Estrada on page 7 of Exh. “N-2”

 

“L-2-b”             Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito on page 7 of Exh. “N-2”chanrobles virtual law library

 

“L-3”                General Information Sheet of ADE Food, Inc. as of January 1987
                          consisting of two (2) pages


 

“M”                   Certificate of Incorporation of Electronic Sentry Systems, Inc.
                          dated 28 July 1983


 

“M-1”                Articles of Incorporation of Electronic Sentry Systems, Inc. dated
                          31 May 1983 consisting of eight (8) pages


 

“M-1-a”            Name of accused Estrada with the corresponding number
                         of subscribed shares three hundred (300) amounting
                         to Thirty Thousand (P30,000.00) Pesos appearing on page 6 of Exh. “O-1”


 

“M-1-b”            Name of accused Estrada with the corresponding paid-up amount
                          of Seven Thousand Five Hundred (P7,500.00) Pesos appearing
                          on page 7 of Exh. “O-1”


 

“M-1-c”            Signature of accused Estrada appearing on page 7 of Exh. “O-1”

 

“M-2”                By-laws of Electronic Sentry Systems, Inc. as of 31 May 1983
                           consisting of eleven (11) pages


 

“M-2-a”            Signature of accused Estrada appearing on page 10 of Exh. “O-2”

 

“N”                   Certificate of Registration of All Hot Soup, Inc. dated 1 September 1983

 

“N-1”                Articles of Incorporation of All Hot Soup, Inc. dated
                          24 August 1983 consisting of ten (10) pages


 

“N-1-a”             Name of accused Estrada with corresponding number of subscribed
                          shares four hundred (400) amounting to Forty Thousand (P40,000.00)
                          Pesos out of which Ten Thousand (P10,000.00) Pesos was paid-up
                          appearing on page 7 of Exh. “P-1”


 

“N-1-b”             Name of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding number of
                          subscribed shares one hundred fifty (150) amounting to Fifteen
                          Thousand (P15,000.00) Pesos appearing on page 7 of Exh. “P-1”


 

“N-1-c”             Name of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito with the corresponding paid-up
                          amount of Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty (P3,750.00)
                          Pesos appearing on page 8 of Exh. “P-1”
chan robles virtual law library

 

“N-1-d”             Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito appearing on page 8 of Exh. “P-1”

 

“N-2”                By-laws of All Hot Soup, Inc. dated 24 August 1983 consisting
                          of eleven (11) pages


 

“N-2-a”             Signature of accused Estrada on page 10 of Exh. “P-2”

 

“N-2-b”             Signature of Dra. Luisa P. Ejercito on page 10 of Exh. “P-2”

 

“N-3”                General Information Sheet of All Hot Soup, Inc. as of January 1987
                          consisting of two (2) pages