Sandiganbayan suspends Arroyo from Congress

MANILA, Philippines — Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would not serve as Pampanga representative for 90 days pending her trial for graft over the botched NBN-ZTE deal in 2007.

The resolution, penned by the Associate Justice Gregory Ong of the anti-graft court's Fourth Division, also indicates that Arroyo's pay and benefits as congresswoman will not be granted under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

"Accused Ma. Gloria M. Macapagal Arroyo is ordered suspended from office pendente lite and said accused is hereby directed to desist from performing and/or exercising the functions and duties, as well as receiving and/or enjoying the salaries, benefits and privileges of her present public position or any other public office [she] may now or hereafter be holding," the resolution said.

The court also ordered Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte to enforce the suspension order and notify the Sandiganbayan within five days on the action.

The former president was tagged in the Philippine National Broadband Network or NBN controversy in 2007 when allegations of corruption arose in the awarding of $329 million construction contract to Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the government's nationwide broadband project.

Arroyo is under hospital arrest at the Veterans' Memorial Hospital in Manila.

The former president was ordered arrested on Nov. 18, 2011 on charges of electoral fraud. She was allowed to post bail in July 2012, but arrested again in October of the same year over the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office fund scam.