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MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to reconsider his 90-day suspension as a senator of the Philippines.
The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Rolando B. Jurado, issued its decision on Friday, August 29.
“In view of the foregoing, Sen. Estrada’s MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION (Re: Minute Resolution dated 17 July 2014), dated August 1, 2014 is hereby DENIED for lack of merit,” the court said.
The Senate has 5 days from receipt of the order to implement it.
On August 18, Estrada filed a motion for leave with the court and requested that he be allowed, as chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development, to conduct committee hearings at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame or any venue the court deemed appropriate.
He had cited the need “to expedite the passage of much-needed laws,” including those on the rights for seafarers and call center agents.
When the Sandiganbayan ordered the suspension of Estrada in July, Senate President Franklin Drilon had said the Senate would abide by the court decision, which would not affect Senate work since the Senate committee vice-chair, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, will take over the work of the panel.
The court had earlier issued suspension orders on two other senators implicated in the pork barrel scam, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
The 3 senators face plunder and graft charges for their alleged involvement in the biggest corruption case in recent Philippine history. In exchange for kickbacks, they allegedly allowed the use of public funds for ghost projects of bogus nongovernmental organizations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles. – Rappler.com
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