The Trial of Joseph Estrada
De Castro headed the anti-graft court’s special division on the perjury and plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada. Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada also faced charges. The long trial finished in September 2007. Estrada was acquitted of perjury charges but found guilty of plunder and sentenced to life imprisonment. All the co-defendants, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada, were acquitted of all charges.
Estrada appealed the decision and called the court (and De Castro, as head of it) "a kangaroo court," while President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the court's decision must be accepted.
De Castro was appointed to the Supreme Court soon after the end of this highly politicized trial. This led to some accusations of quid pro quo. People claimed that she had convicted former President Estrada in exchange for a seat on the Supreme Court. She vigorously denied those rumors, claiming that she had been a candidate for a seat on the high court before her involvement in the case.
Read more about this topic: Teresita De Castro
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