(CNN PHILIPPINES) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 18) — The Sandiganbayan will release on Friday the verdict in the plunder case against Senator Jinggoy Estrada for the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel fund.
Estrada faces charges of plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly diverting his pork barrel and pocketing over ₱183 million through dubious non-government organizations created by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.
Here’s a look back on Estrada’s pork barrel scam case nearly a decade after.
July 2013
The Philippine Daily Inquirer released a six-part exposé based on the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe into Napoles’ ₱10-billion scam.
The expose also interviewed whistleblowers, including Napoles’ former employee Benhur Luy.
Aug. 16, 2013
The Commission on Audit released a special report on the use of PDAF – a discretionary fund of legislators for pet projects – from 2007 to 2009.
The report found that at least ₱6 billion in pork barrel was released to bogus NGOs, including 10 linked to Napoles. One hundred ninety-two lawmakers were also tagged in the anomaly.
Aug. 29, 2013
The Senate began its investigation into the misuse of pork barrel funds, with then Commission on Audit Chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan confirming that Estrada and fellow senators Bong Revilla and Juan Ponce Enrile were linked to the scam.
Pulido-Tan said the three senators asked government agencies to release millions of pesos from their PDAF to the NGOs of Napoles.
Sept. 16, 2013
The Department of Justice filed plunder, graft and corrupt practices, malversation, and bribery charges against the three senators, Napoles, and over 30 other people over their alleged involvement in the scam.
May 28, 2014
A file from whistleblower Luy detailed the financial transactions of a number of lawmakers involving their pork barrel. The list included Estrada.
June 6, 2014
The Ombudsman also filed separate plunder charges against Napoles and the three senators.
June 23, 2014
Estrada and two of his colleagues surrendered to authorities with arrest warrants.
He was detained for three years at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
Sept. 18, 2014
The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division favored Estrada’s plea against detention in a regular jail for security reasons.
June 15, 2015
Another state witness, Ruby Tuason, testified before the Sandiganbayan that she personally delivered Estrada’s kickbacks, which the latter denied.
Jan. 6, 2016
The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division denied Estrada’s first bail petition as the prosecution found “strong evidence of guilt” against him.
Sept. 15, 2017
Despite committing a non-bailable offense, the anti-graft court allowed Estrada to post ₱1.3 million bail for his plunder case.
July 31, 2018
The Supreme Court upheld the Office of the Ombudsman’s finding of probable cause to charge Estrada with plunder and graft in connection with the pork barrel scam.
March 20, 2019
The anti-graft court allowed Estrada and Napoles to seek an outright dismissal of their plunder charges while trial is proceeding.
Sept. 11, 2019
The Sandiganbayan still denied Estrada’s plea to dismiss his plunder case, citing sufficient evidence of pork barrel misuse.
Fast forward to 2023, the Sandiganbayan submitted Estrada’s plunder case for resolution in July.
Estrada is expected to personally attend the verdict announcement at the anti-graft court.
With reports by CNN Philippines’ senior correspondent AC Nicholls