Recto: Senate has sole power to suspend its members

Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the Senate has the sole power to suspend or expel its members as provided for under the Constitution.

Recto raised this issue after the Office of the Ombudsman filed petitions before the Sandiganbayan seeking to suspend Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who are both charged with plunder and graft over the “pork barrel” scam.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile had also been charged with plunder and graft  but the anti-graft court has yet to issue an arrest warrant against him.

Recto said at first that it would be ministerial on the part of the Senate if the court would order the suspension of the three senators.

“Although it’s a ticklish issue, it’s for the lawyers to decide, because constitutionally, it’s only the Senate who can expel its members so I’m not sure,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

The senator then cited the case  of  former President and now  Pampanga Representative  Gloria  Macapagal-Arroyo, who has also been charged with  plunder  but  continued  to perform her work  while in hospital detention.

It was only this Tuesday that  the Sandiganbayan ordered  Arroyo’s suspension for 90-days  on the graft  charges  filed against her in connection with the anomalous NB-ZTE  deal when she was still president.

“I’m not a lawyer but I know there’s a constitutional provision that we are the only one who can suspend  a member through the ethics committee,”  Recto said.

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