By Prince Golez
Manila Reporter
MANILA – The Fifth Division of the Sandiganbayan on Friday morning ordered the suspension of the now detained Jinggoy Estrada as senator.
Estrada is facing criminal charges before the anti-graft court over his alleged involvment in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam.
The two-page order was signed by Associate Justice Rolando Jurado, Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta.
“The fear of the accused that his constituents will be paralyzed for 90 days when he is preventively suspended is remote. There will still remain 21 other seats of the Republic of the Philippines who can meet as such,” the order said.
The Senate will implement the suspension order, said Senate President Franklin Drilon.
“The Senate will respect every step in the investigation of this case. We will fully abide by the preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan,” said Drilon in a statement.
Drilon said once a senator is suspended s/he cannot attend sessions, file bills, hold committee hearings and sign committee reports.
The veteran lawmaker said Senate function will “continue” amid Estrada’s suspension.
“The Senate is not about the senators, and it is not about the pork barrel scam controversy. We have a mandate to fulfill. And with our performance during the First Regular Session, we have proven that the Senate could not be hampered by any controversy,” he ended./PN
