In a radio interview, Drilon said the three senators being implicated in the alleged pork barrel scam will be temporarily barred from performing their work as legislators in case the Ombudsman files a motion to suspend them before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the plunder case.
“Ang suspension po ng public official na nasampahan ng kaso ay automatic po. Ang kailangan lang ay isang motion galing sa Ombudsman… Walang pong discretion ang Sandiganbayan kundi suspendihin ang official,” the Senate leader told radio dzRH.
Drilon particulary cited the Supreme Court ruling on a petition filed in 1989 by then-Zambales Governor Amor Deloso, which calls for the “automatic application” of the suspension of a public official facing criminal charges.
Last April 1, the Ombudsman recommended plunder charges against Estrada, Revilla and Enrile for allegedly pocketing millions in their pork barrel funds through a scam supposedly engineered by busineswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
All three senators have denied involvement in the alleged anomaly.
Earlier, Senator Francis Escudero said that any move to expel or suspend one of his colleagues should be coursed through the Senate ethics panel.
“To begin with, before any expulsion or suspension can be initiated, dapat maporma muna yung ethics committee na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa napoporma. Hiniling na namin noon yan na dapat na maporma para madinig mang lang yung kaso at mabigyan ng venue yung mga kapwa naming senador na mailahad yun panig nila,” Escudero said.
The Senate has yet to convene its ethics committee supposedly due to senators’ “aversion” to the chairmanship of the panel. — RSJ, GMA News