Senate suspends JPE for 90 days

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate implemented the 90-day suspension order against Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday.

“I have no recourse but to implement this, as we received the order of the Sandiganbayan denying the motion for reconsideration of Sen. Enrile… the suspension will be automatically lifted after 90 days,” Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

“This is the order of the Sandiganbayan and we have no recourse but to implement it, consistent with the decision of the Supreme Court in the case involving a member of the legislature,” he added.

In a manifestation, Drilon informed magistrates of the anti-graft court’s Third Division that the suspension order dated July 24 has been complied with.

Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justices Samuel Martires and Alex Quiroz affirmed the suspension order in a decision issued on Aug. 22.

The Third Division magistrates said preventive suspension is not a penalty “but an indispensable and mandatory consequence of accused Enrile’s criminal indictment under valid Information.”

Ombudsman prosecutors sought Enrile’s suspension shortly after he was indicted in order to prevent him from influencing witnesses or tampering with possible documentary evidence that will be used against him during trial.

The 90-year-old lawmaker is being held without bail at the Philippine National Police General Hospital in Camp Crame.

On reports that the Sandiganbayan also denied the motion for reconsideration of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Drilon said the Senate would implement the order as soon as the anti-graft court transmits it.

“It will be implemented in the same manner that we have implemented the case of Senator Enrile because the order of the Sandiganbayan is immediately executory, unless restrained by the Supreme Court,” he said.

He said the Senate is also required to report to the Sandiganbayan within five days from receipt of the order.

Suspended senators cannot file bills and sign committee reports. Their salary and benefits are also suspended, but their respective staff members can still work as employees of the Senate.

Drilon assured the public that the Senate could still function well despite the detention and suspension of some of its members.

Along with Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Enrile and Estrada are detained in Camp Crame for plunder in connection with the alleged misuse of their Priority Development Assistance Fund from 2007 to 2010. – With Michael Punongbayan