Senate will not yet implement Enrile's suspension

The Senate on Wednesday formally informed the Sandiganbayan that it will not yet implement the 90-day suspension order against Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile pending the anti-graft court’s final resolution on the matter.

In a compliance and manifestation submitted to the court’s Third Division, the office of Senate President Franklin Drilon stated that it received the July 24 resolution on July 25.

Enrile, through a letter dated July 30 and signed by his chief of staff Cherbett Karen Maralit, informed Drilon that he will file a motion for reconsideration on the matter on or before August 1, 2014.

“This office hereby manifests that it would take appropriate action on the suspension order upon this Honorable Court’s disposition of the motion of reconsideration, or upon the lapse of the prescribed period to file a motion for reconsideration and no such motion is filed,” the document signed by Drilon’s chief of staff stated.

Drilon made a similar manifestation to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division when it ordered the suspension of Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Enrile and Estrada, as well as Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., are facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam. In the Senate records they are recorded as “under detention.”

The Sandiganbayan First Division, which is hearing the charges against Revilla, has yet to decide on the motion filed by the prosecution to suspend him. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News