MANILA, Philippines—As with all issues involving the courts, Malacañang on Friday said it would depend on the Sandiganbayan if senators accused of misusing their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) would be detained in regular jails.
“It’s not for us to decide. It’s for the courts to decide,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Friday following Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s statement that her colleagues linked to the pork barrel scam should receive no special treatment once they are arrested.
“Anything in respect of venue, detention, these are within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,” he said. “So it will be incumbent on the courts, on the Sandiganbayan, to make a decision on those matters, and whatever the decision is, we will just enforce.”
He said that while government prosecutors would be arguing for the case, the decision would still be left with the Sandiganbayan.
Santiago said Thursday that Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. should be placed in a regular jail.
“They should not be detained in air-conditioned palaces or be placed under house arrest because the people will see that there’s a difference in treatment when one is poor and when one is powerful,” she said.
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