Jinggoy lawyers move to block suspensions over graft charges

Even without a motion to suspend him for 11 counts of graft, lawyers of Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan to block state prosecutors from possibly lobbying to have him suspended for up to three years.

 

In their reply to the state prosecutor's opposition to their motion for reconsideration to suspend Estrada, the senator's lawyers led by Atty. Jose Flaminiano prayed that Estrada's suspension over plunder charges be reversed, and that the prosecution be barred from seeking additional 90-day suspensions over the multiple graft cases.

 

Detained Senator Estrada is currently suspended over plunder charges.

He is accused of pocketing P183.79 million in public funds by diverting his pork barrel to bogus NGOs put up by trader Janet Lim-Napoles.

 

“Records show that Sen. Estrada is not only accused in the instant case but also in SB14-CRM-0256 to 0266,” Flaminiano said.

 

In this case, the instant case refers to the plunder raps Estrada is facing, while SB14-CRM-0256 to 0266 cover his graft cases.

 

Because of this, the lawyers prayed for the Fifth Division that the “plaintiff be precluded from seeking Estrada’s suspension in SB-14-CRM-0256 to 0266.”

 

Earlier, in their opposition to Estrada's motion for reconsideration, the prosecution said that they did not act in bad faith in asking for the suspension of Sen. Estrada.

 

The prosecution also said that the criminal information is valid, therefore necessitating Estrada's suspension.

 

However, in their reply, Flaminiano said that "he prosecution is incorrect in its argument that the validity of the Informations in these consolidated cases are no longer an issue" since the prosecution itself admits that with respect to a pre-suspension hearing, "the accused may challenge the validity of the Information by alleging that he "had not been afforded the right to due preliminary investigation," which is what Sen. Estrada has done in the instant case."

 

Estrada's lawyers also insisted that the suspension was called for in bad faith. —KG, GMA News