Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will continue performing his functions as senator until and unless his conviction by the Sandiganbayan becomes final and executory, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
Zubiri said the Senate takes due notice and respects the decision of the Sandiganbayan on the cases filed against Estrada, a sitting senator with a mandate emanating from over 15 million voters.
“The Senate also recognizes the fact that there are still remedies available to Sen. Jinggoy under existing laws and the Rules of Court,” Zubiri said in a statement sent to Senate reporters.
“He has the right to exhaust all of these. He can still file a Motion for Reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan; he can still file an appeal by certiorari with the Supreme Court,” Zubiri said.
“Until and unless the decision becomes final and executory, Sen. Jinggoy is duty-bound to continue performing his functions as senator.”
The Sandiganbayan acquit[1]ted Estrada of plunder but found him guilty of direct and indirect bribery.
Apart from imprisonment of up to 16 years, he was permanently barred from holding public office and ordered placed under “temporary absolute disqualification and perpetual special disqualifica[1]tion from the right to vote” – a penalty that caused confusion.
His lawyer Alexis Abastillas Suarez told “Storycon” on Cignal TV’s One News that the temporary disqualification could be implemented only when the ruling becomes final.
The ruling is expected to be appealed, first through a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbayan. If rejected, the conviction can be elevated to the Court of Appeals and all the way to the Supreme Court. — Cecille Suerte Felipe
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Credit belongs to: www.philstar.com
