Sandiganbayan suspends Jinggoy Estrada for another 90 days
The Sandiganbayan has put Sen. Jinggoy Estrada under preventive suspension for 90 more days amid the plunder charge against the lawmaker.
On Oct. 12, the graft court's Fifth Division chair, Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, issued a five-page resolution imposing Estrada's suspension after the initial order, made in June, expired.
"Accused Senator Jose 'Jinggoy' P. Ejercito Estrada stands charged for violation of section 3 (e) of R.A. No. 3019 and plunder under R.A. No. 7080, as amended. With the court's disposition of all incidents relating to the validity of the Informations against him, his preventative suspension is now in order," the document read.
The suspension will be automatically lifted after the 90-day period expires.
This came after the court, on Oct. 9, denied the senator's motion for reconsideration filed on Sept. 1, which granted the amendment of informations and exclusion of former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Estrada, on Sept. 14, argued the validity of the amended informations and stated that putting him under suspension for 90 more days would be "more punitive," as he had already been suspended since June.
"Jurisprudence is clear on the mandatory nature of preventive suspension when a public officer is charged with a valid information involving violation of RA No. 3109, there are no ifs and buts about it," Trespeses wrote, referring to the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Estrada has been detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since his June 1 arrest for the non-bailable plunder charge connected to his alleged receipt of P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects. He has posted bail for his two graft charges.
Estrada was named by former Department of Public Works and Highways engineer Brice Hernandez as among those who were allegedly involved in kickback schemes in Bulacan. The senator has since denied the claims.
In September, Estrada entered a not guilty plea to his graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division.
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