Sandiganbayan places Jinggoy Estrada under 90-day suspension

Updated at 6:00 pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada amid charges related to the flood control scandal.

“Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, this Court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ P. Ejercito Estrada from his present position as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and from any other public office which he may now or hereafter be holding for a period of ninety (90) days from receipt of this Resolution, which shall take effect upon the finality of this Resolution,” a resolution by the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan read.

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READ: Jinggoy Estrada refuses to plead; court enters not guilty plea in graft

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The senator’s suspension came exactly two weeks before he and his co-accused are scheduled to be arraigned at the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division on plunder and graft charges stemming from the flood control scandal.

Under Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7080, or the Plunder Law,  any public official facing criminal prosecution “under a valid information under this Act … shall be suspended from office.”

Section 13 of the Anti-Graft Law also states that officials charged with graft or criminal offenses under the Revised Penal Code “shall be suspended from office.”

In a statement after being suspended, Estrada reiterated that he has no intention of using the powers and privileges of being a senator to shield himself from the charges filed against him.

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He said it reflects his “voluntary surrender” to authorities, as well as his decision to have the Senate secretary suspend his salary.

“I did not hesitate to take these steps because it was clear to me that personal interests have no place in a process meant to uncover the truth,” he said in Filipino.

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“I did not want my intention to respect due process and prove myself in the proper forum to be tainted by even the slightest doubt,” he added.

He also said he will avail himself of all legal remedies under the law. /mcm /apl/ mcm

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