Senate enforces suspension order against Jinggoy Estrada

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has implemented the 30-day preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan against Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who has been detained in a Quezon City jail in connection with the flood control scandal.

He was suspended starting June 22, according to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug.

READ: Court orders Jinggoy Estrada suspended for 90 days

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“The Senate president officially notified the office of Senator Estrada that the suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan will be implemented or was implemented beginning June 22,” Bantug told reporters on Thursday.

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As a result of this, Estrada’s salary and benefits will also be suspended, the Senate official explained.

“Because you’re not allowed to perform your functions,” Bantug pointed out.

Estrada’s office, however, will continue to operate since the senator’s suspension will be automatically lifted after 90 days.

“So the office is still there. The staff can still continue to function because at a certain point, the suspension will be lifted,” Bantug said.

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Asked if Estrada was also suspended as a senator-judge, the Senate official initially refused to answer the question.

But he later added, “He (Estrada) is suspended as a senator of the republic, and personally, then it goes with it that being a senator-judge is also under indictment.”

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Estrada was charged with graft and plunder before the Sandiganbayan for supposedly receiving P573 million in kickbacks from budget allocations for flood control projects last year. /das

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