MANILA, Philippines – Walang magawa si Senate President Franklin Drilon kung hindi ay ipatupad ang kautusan ng Sandiganbayan na suspendihin si Senador Juan Ponce Enrile ng 90 araw kaugnay ng pork barrel scam.
"I have no recourse but to implement this, as we received the order of the Sandiganbayan denying the motion for reconsideration of Senator Enrile. The suspension will be effective today, and the suspension will be automatically lifted after 90 days,” pahayag ni Drilon.
"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," dagdag niya.
Sinabi pa ni Drilon na ganito rin ang kahihinatnan ng isa pang akusado na si Senador Jinggoy Estrada kapag inilabas na ng anti-graft court ang kautusan.
Nauna nang inilabas ng Sandiganbayan ang kautusan nitong Hulyo ngunit sinubukang umapela ng Senado.
"I read in the papers that the Sandiganbayan has also denied the motion for reconsideration of Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Again, I have no recourse, but the moment I receive this order, we will also implement it and we will report to the Sandiganbayan because we are required to report within five days from receipt of the order. So this is what we will do today, the suspension will be effective as directed by the Sandiganbayan as of Sep. 1, 2014," wika ni Drilon.
Wala pa namang desisyon ang Sandiganbayan sa suspensyon ni Senador Bong Revilla Jr.
Nakakulong sina Enrile, Estrada, at Revilla sa Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City dahil sa kasong plunder at graft.
Habang suspendido ay hindi maaaring magampanan nina Enrile at Estrada ang kanilang tungkulin bilang mga senado, kabilang dito ang pagpapasa ng mga panukala
Hindi rin makatatanggap ng sahod ang dalawa, pero tiniyak ni Drilon na hindi maaapektuhan ang mga tauhan ng mga senador.