THE Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division has allowed detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada to undergo a knee X-ray at Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) in San Juan City on August 26 despite objections from the prosecution.
In a four-page resolution, the anti-graft court granted Estrada’s motion for leave, filed via electronic mail, seeking permission to undergo the procedure after experiencing persistent pain in both knees that has made it difficult for him to walk.
The Sandiganbayan said Estrada will be allowed to leave his detention cell at the New Quezon City Jail at around 11 a.m. for his scheduled 1 p.m. X-ray.
The court directed his security escorts to return him to the Quezon City jail no later than 3 p.m. on the same day.
Aside from his security escorts, Estrada may be accompanied only by immediate family members, legal counsel and attending medical personnel during the procedure.
‘Photography, video recording, and any social media postings regarding the accused’s procedure are strictly prohibited,’ the court said.
All hospital, medical, transportation and incidental expenses will be shouldered by Estrada.
In his motion, Estrada said that even before his detention on June 1, 2026, he had been suffering from joint effusion and intermittent pain in both knees.
He was previously diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition affecting his mobility. His orthopedic doctor, Dr. Jose Fernando Syquia, recommended an X-ray to determine whether his condition has worsened.
The prosecution opposed Estrada’s request, suggesting that the procedure instead be conducted at the New Quezon City Jail using a portable X-ray machine or mobile X-ray clinic.
It also proposed that the court tap government hospitals or other public medical facilities to conduct the examination.
Estrada is facing trial before the Sandiganbayan for plunder and graft over allegations that he received more than P573 million in kickbacks from government flood-control projects from 2024 to 2025.
The Office of the Ombudsman alleged that Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and several others were involved in an ‘intricate mechanism involving illegal budgetary insertions and project allocations’ within the Department of Public Works and Highways’ infrastructure portfolio.
The Ombudsman said its evaluation of the records showed that ‘substantial public funds were deliberately funneled into designated infrastructure projects in exchange for pre-determined commission fees or kickbacks.’
Estrada has maintained that there is no strong evidence showing that he demanded or solicited kickbacks or ‘commitments’ from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo or his aide in connection with flood-control or other infrastructure projects.