Public officials, including the three senators allegedly involved in the “pork barrel” scam will be automatically suspended from their posts once a petition to suspend them is filed before the Sandiganbayan, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.
Take it from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada: Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes isn’t out to save her own skin at the expense of her former boss, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile.
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by former Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco which sought to nullify a provision from the Ombudsman Act for violating the constitution.
Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said he would pray this Holy Week that the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan justices would be enlightened on “pork barrel” scam and not judge them “unfairly.”
The Sandiganbayan has dismissed graft charges against Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora E. Cerilles and two others because of “inordinate delay” in the filing of the case by the Office of the Ombudsman.
There is no evidence that he received millions of pesos in kickbacks from Janet Lim-Napoles, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said in a 26-page motion for reconsideration he submitted to the Ombudsman.
Six of the 53 people, including three senators, in the first set of respondents recommended for prosecution in connection with the pork barrel scam have fled the country, the Inquirer has learned.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has started moves to freeze the assets and bank accounts of the lawmakers implicated in the pork barrel scam and recommended for prosecution for plunder by the Ombudsman, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Friday.
There is no evidence to show that the signatures of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. and their designated representatives in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) documents were forged, according to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“The Ombudsman should not be selective. Many administration senators and congressmen are equally guilty. They too must be investigated and charged.”
Malacañang said on Wednesday that another plunder case, involving administration allies, is also being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Is six months too fast to find probable cause and indict lawmakers for plunder? Malacañang on Wednesday said it cannot answer for the Office of the Ombudsman.
Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said his lawyers will file on Monday (April 7) a motion for reconsideration on the Ombudsman’s ruling to charge him and other personalities in court with plunder and graft in connection with the pork barrel funds scam.
