Jinggoy Estrada suspended for 90 days by Sandiganbayan

MANILA, Philippines — Amid charges related to the flood control scandal, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was meted on Tuesday with a 90-day preventive suspension by the Sandiganbayan.

A resolution by the second division of the Sandigayanbayan read: “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.”

READ: Jinggoy Estrada bucks Senate custody

The court’s order of suspension came exactly two weeks before Estrada 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.

Plunder Law takes its course

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.”

READ: Sandiganbayan: Jinggoy Estrada to be committed to Payatas

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.

‘Voluntary surrender’

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.

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

“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.

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