PLUNDER

Section 2 of RA 7080
-is committed when a public officer who, by himself or in
connivance with members of his family, relatives by
affinity or consanguinity, business associates,
subordinates or other persons, amasses, accumulates or
acquires ill-gotten wealth through a combination or
series of overt or criminal acts as described in Section 1(d)
hereof in the aggregate amount or total value of at least
Fifty million pesos (P50, 000, 000.00).

Ill-gotten wealth means

any asset means any
asset, property, business
enterprise or material
possession of any person
acquired by him directly
or indirectly through
dummies, nominees,
agents, subordinates
and/or business
associates by any
combination or series of
the following means or
similar schemes:

(a) Through misappropriation, conversion, misuse, or malversation

of public funds or raids on the public treasury;
(b) By receiving, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share,
percentage, kickbacks or any other form of pecuniary benefit from
any person and/or entity in connection with any government
contract or project or by reason of the office or position of the
public officer concerned;
(c) By the illegal or fraudulent conveyance or disposition of assets
belonging to the National Government or any of its subdivisions,
agencies or instrumentalities or government-owned or -controlled
corporations and their subsidiaries;
(d) By obtaining, receiving or accepting directly or indirectly any
shares of stock, equity or any other form of interest or
participation including promise of future employment in any
business enterprise or undertaking;

Ill-gotten wealth means

any asset means any
asset, property, business
enterprise or material
possession of any person
acquired by him directly
or indirectly through
dummies, nominees,
agents, subordinates
and/or business
associates by any
combination or series of
the following means or
similar schemes:

(e) By establishing agricultural, industrial or commercial

monopolies or other combinations and/or implementation of
decrees and orders intended to benefit particular persons or
special interests; or
(f) By taking undue advantage of official position, authority,
relationship, connection or influence to unjustly enrich himself or
themselves at the expense and to the damage and prejudice of
the Filipino people and the Republic of the Philippines. (Section 1,
Republic Act No. 7080, as amended)

 Those found guilty of the crime of plunder shall be punished by life

imprisonment with perpetual absolute disqualification from
holding any public office.
Any person who participated with said public officer in the
commission of plunder shall likewise be punished. In imposing
penalties, the court shall consider the guilty parties degree of
participation as well as attendant mitigating and extenuating
circumstances. (Section 2, Republic Act No. 7080, as amended)

 The court shall declare any and all ill-gotten wealth and their
interests and other incomes and assets including the properties
and shares of stock derived from the deposit or investment
thereof forfeited by the State. (Section 2, Republic Act No. 7080,
as amended)

CASES FOR PLUNDER:

Fleurdeliz B. Organo vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R.
No. 136916, December 14, 1999)

Joseph Erap Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R.

No. 148560, November 19, 2001)
Jose Jinggoy Estrada vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R.
No. 148965, February 26, 2002)

JOSE JINGGOY E. ESTRADA, petitioner, vs. SANDIGANBAYAN (THIRD

DIVISION), PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES and OFFICE OF THE
OMBUDSMAN, respondents.

(G.R. No. 148965, February 26, 2002)

FACTS:
- November 2000 OFFSHOOT OF ERAPS IMPEACHMENT
- April 4, 2001

SANDIGANBAYAN ISSUED A RESOLUTION

- April 24, 2001

MOTION TO QUASH

- April 25, 2001

ISSUED A WARRANT OF ARREST

- July 9, 2001

DENIED THE MOTION OF THE PETITIONER

- the accused conspired in committing the crime of plunder

I
S
S
U
E
S

(a) Whether the Anti-Plunder Law, Republic Act No. 7080, is

unconstitutional;
(b) Whether petitioner Jose Jinggoy Estrada may be tried for
plunder, it appearing that he was only allegedly involved in one
act or offense that is illegal gambling and not in a "series or
combination of overt or criminal acts" as required in R.A. No.
7080; and
(c) Whether the petitioner is entitled to bail as a matter of
right.

(1.) NO. Already been settled in the case of Joseph Estrada v.

Sandiganbayan.

R
U
L
I
N
G

(2.) YES. Petitioners contention that R.A. No. 7080 is

unconstitutional as applied to him is principally rested on the
premise that the Amended Information charged him with only
one act or one offense which cannot constitute plunder.
(3.) The Court noted that the hearings on which respondent
court based its Resolution denying the motion for bail involved
the reception of medical evidence only and which evidence
was given five months earlier in September 2001. The records
do not show that evidence on petitioner's guilt was presented
before the lower court. Thus, the Sandiganbayan was ordered
to conduct hearings to ascertain whether evidence of
petitioner's guilt is strong to determine whether to grant bail
to the latter.