By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday filed his counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the alleged plunder complaint filed against him and others in connection with the anomalous flood control projects.
Estrada declined to speak, but lawyer Bianca Soriano confirmed to the media the filing of the counter-affidavit for the alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“We attack it based on procedural rules, specifically on the requirements of a complaint affidavit, because what NBI filed is a letter attaching an affidavit,” Soriano told the media.
“And then, we also discussed the admissibility and the credibility of the evidence, which will not be able to meet the threshold required for criminal cases before the DOJ or the Ombudsman.”
Estrada’s counter-affidavit also questioned whether the charges comply with jurisprudence that requires prosecutors to be more cautious with testimonies of witnesses who are applying for the state witness protection program.
Soriano also insisted that Estrada is not a flight risk and should be allowed to travel abroad.
“As we’ve seen in Sandiganbayan, he has been complying with the necessary requirements for him to be able to travel,” she said.
The DOJ earlier said it would oppose moves by Estrada’s camp to lift the precautionary hold departure order issued against him by the courts. (PNA)
