MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada's office has shared the Sandiganbayan Special 5th Division Ruling  granting his motion for reconsideration, reversing  and setting aside his prior  conviction for one count of Direct Bribery under Art. 210 of the Revised Penal Code and two counts of Indirect Bribery under Art. 211 of the same Code.

The ruling also denied the motion for partial reconsideration filed by co-accused Janet Lim Napoles while partially reconsidering her conviction for one count of Corruption of

The conviction of one count of direct bribery against Estrada was reversed.

It also ruled that Napoles' conviction for 4 counts of Corruption of Public Officials under Article 212, in relation to Article 210, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code is upheld.

Napoles was sentenced to the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of 8 years of prision mayor, as minimum, to ten years and 8 months of prision mayor as maximum, for each count and ordered to pay a find of P29,625,000.00. It also maintains the imposition of civil liability in the amount of P262,034,000.00 with interest of 6% per annum.

"While direct bribery is a lesser offense of plunder and the Information sufficiently alleged the factual details descriptive of its essential elements, the prosecution's evidence failed to establish the guilt of accused Estrada beyond reasonable doubt." 

The Sandiganbayan said: "We are, thus, constrained to reverse his conviction for one count of direct bribery under Art. 210 of the RPC. Consequently, the corresponding conviction of Napoles for one count of corruption of public officials under Art. 212 of the RPC is likewise reconsidered"

The division has Associate Justice Ma. Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Rafael Lagos, Lorifel Lacap Pahimna, Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac and Bayani H. Jacinto as members.

Estrada was earlier acquitted from plunder. The case stems from the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam.

Estrada, in a statement, expressed relief over his latest courtroom victory.

"I am deeply relieved of the Sandiganbayan Special Fifth Division’s decision finding merit in my motion for reconsideration and acquitting me of the direct and indirect bribery charges. This ruling reaffirms the innocence I have consistently maintained throughout the ordeal, which spanned a decade, as I sought to prove the baselessness of the accusations against me,” Estrada said.

“Pinatotohanan ng korte ang naunang pahayag na wala akong tinanggap na suhol, direkta man o hindi. Hindi ako kailanman gumamit ng pondo ng bayan para sa pansariling interes o para pagtakpan ang anumang gawain na taliwas sa mga umiiral na batas. At higit sa lahat, pinatotohanan ng desisyong ito na hindi ko sinira ang tiwala na ibinigay sa akin ng mga mamamayan," he added.

Estrada also thanked the court.

"Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa Sandiganbayan sa pagkatig sa aking inihaing motion for reconsideration. Gayunpanan, hindi pa tapos ang laban. Bilang isang lingkod bayan, gagawin ko ang lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya, kahit gaano pa katagal, na linisin ang aking pangalan,” Estrada said. 

"Hindi madali ang kabanatang pinagdaanan ko ngunit nanatili ang aking tiwala sa ating justice system at kumpiyansa na mapatunayan ang aking integridad bilang halal ng bayan.  This experience has only further solidified my commitment to work tirelessly for the betterment of our nation as we move forward,” he added.