Win Gatchalian: Marcoleta, Estrada suspensions on hold pending motions

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The suspension of Senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada will be held in abeyance pending the final resolution of their motions for reconsideration, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Sunday.

Gatchalian made the statement after confirming that the Senate had received the suspension orders from the Sandiganbayan.

“Nakakuha rin ako ng sulat galing kay Sen. Jinggoy at Sen. Marcoleta na i-hold muna in abeyance ang suspension dahil ang balita namin... magpa-file sila ng motion for reconsideration,” Gatchalian told Super Radyo dzBB.

(We also received letters from Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta asking that their suspensions be held in abeyance because we received reports that they would file motions for reconsideration.)

“Kapag nag-file ng motion for reconsideration, hindi muna sinususpinde until maging final na ang kanilang motion for reconsideration,” he added.

(If a motion for reconsideration is filed, the suspension will be deferred until the motion is finally resolved.)

Earlier this month, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division ordered Estrada placed under preventive suspension for 90 days in connection with the plunder and graft charges he faces over his alleged involvement in the flood control projects scandal.

It was the second 90-day preventive suspension imposed on Estrada after the anti-graft court’s Second Division issued a similar order in June in connection with separate graft charges.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division ordered Marcoleta placed under preventive suspension also for 90 days in connection with a plunder charge over alleged undeclared campaign contributions worth P75 million.

Gatchalian said Marcoleta and Estrada, along with Senator Loren Legarda, were not receiving their salaries because of their absences from office.

Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said criminal charges against Legarda and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste were expected to be filed soon over an alleged failure by Leviste’s solar company to deliver contracted power supply.

Remulla, however, declined to give a timeline for the filing of the cases.— MCG, GMA News

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