What's next for 'pork' senators? Palace shows roadmap

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Wednesday presented a roadmap detailing how the cases in connection with the pork barrel scam will now proceed.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said all the next steps will be carried out by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.

Coloma said the roadmap he presented was based on the interpretation of the law.

"When the 1987 Constitution was promulgated, the Filipino people affirmed fidelity to the rule of law. We are a government of laws, not of men. Let the rule of law take its course," Coloma said.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a resolution ordering the filing of charges against several personalities in the pork barrel scam, including businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.

Here are the next steps following the Ombudsman's resolution, according to the roadmap presented by the Palace:

1. Under the law, each and every one of the respondents is given five days from receipt of the Ombudsman’s resolution to file a Motion for Reconsideration;

2. The Ombudsman will evaluate and resolve such motions up to a maximum of 60 days;

3. The Ombudsman will file the information with the Sandiganbayan;

4. The case will then be raffled-off to one of the five divisions of the Sandigandayan (each division has three justices);

5. Upon evaluation of the information and the records of the case, the Court will issue warrants of arrest. (The issuance of the warrants of arrest ensures that the Court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the accused.)

6. Trial will commence.

Based on evidence

Saying the government is only following the evidence presented, Coloma dismissed allegations that it is targeting the opponents of the administration with the filing of the cases against those involved in the scam.

"Ang batayang prinsipyo lang na ating sinusunod dito sa simula pa nitong usaping ito ay iyong sinabi ng ating Pangulo: Let the evidence direct the course of the inquiry," Coloma said.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, an ally of the senators to be charged, said on Wednesday that the Aquino administration should also go after its allies who have also been implicated in the controversy.

But Coloma said they are leaving it up to the Ombudsman the cases involving the administration's allies.

"Nakahain na po iyong tinutukoy ninyong kaso sa tanggapan ng Ombudsman. Kung maaalala ninyo, dalawang kaso na iyong naihain patungkol sa PDAF at merong isang kaso tungkol sa Malampaya funds. At ang dalawang kasong binanggit ay nasa pangangasiwa na ngayon ng Office of the Ombudsman," Coloma said.