THE Senate has formally enforced the preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan against detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada, with the measure taking effect starting June 22. Senate Secretary Rey Bantug confirmed this development in a statement to reporters on Thursday, June 25.
“The Senate President officially notified Senator Estrada’s office that the suspension order issued by the anti‑graft court was implemented beginning Monday, June 22,” Bantug said. The order came from the Sandiganbayan Second Division on June 16, imposing a 90‑day preventive suspension on Estrada, who is facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged flood control fund corruption. He is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail.
During the suspension period, Estrada is prohibited from performing his duties and functions as a member of the Senate, and he will not receive his salary or any other benefits attached to his office. Senate President Win Gatchalian previously clarified that the suspension also strips Estrada of his role as a senator‑judge in the ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. How this will affect the required two‑thirds vote needed to convict the vice president remains uncertain for now.
Bantug noted that details regarding the operation of Estrada’s office and the compensation of his staff have yet to be finalized, adding that he will submit a formal recommendation to Gatchalian on these matters. For his part, Estrada has stated he will not claim any salary while in detention and will exhaust all legal remedies to contest the case. He has consistently denied involvement in the alleged irregularities, rejecting claims of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects.
