Senators detained or 'at large' not receiving salaries, says Gatchalian

Senators who are currently detained, as well as the one who is currently in hiding, are voluntarily not receiving their salaries, Senate President Win Gatchalian said Thursday.

Gatchalian made the statement when asked about senators who are unable to perform their duties because they are under the jurisdiction of the courts.

“Yung mga senators na naka-detain and senator at large, hindi rin niya kinukuha ang sweldo nila voluntarily,” Gatchalian said.

(Those senators who are detained and at large, they also don't take their salaries voluntarily.)

Court decides if detained senator may attend trial

Gatchalian said the Senate cannot decide whether a detained senator may leave custody to attend the ongoing impeachment trial or perform other duties.

“Nasa court 'yan,” he said.

(That is up to the court.)

He explained that once a senator, or any individual—is under the jurisdiction of a court, it is the court that decides whether the person may be released, allowed to seek medical treatment or permitted to work.

“Once a senator judge or whoever, a senator, a senator judge or individual is under the jurisdiction of the court, ang court lang ang pwedeng magdesisyon kung siya ay palalabasin, papuntahin sa doktor or even magtrabaho [only the court can decide whether that person may be released, allowed to see a doctor or even work],” Gatchalian said.

Unreleased salaries may become Senate savings

Gatchalian said the salaries voluntarily not being received could eventually be treated as savings by the Senate.

“Pupunta yan sa hindi nagagastos. The Senate can declare it as savings and use it for something else,” he said. (It's going to the unspent funds. The Senate can declare it as savings and use it for something else.)

He also separately said Senator Loren Legarda, who is on medical leave, is not receiving her salary.

According to Gatchalian, the Senate accounting and payroll departments were instructed to suspend the release of her salary after she filed her medical leave. — BM/NB, GMA News