The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada Jr. from public office, BusinessWorld reported. The resolution, dated June 16, was issued by the anti-graft court’s Second Division.
Estrada faces graft and plunder charges arising from alleged kickbacks from mitigation projects. The cases stem from his tenure as a senator, with prosecutors accusing him of receiving commissions from contractors in exchange for facilitating the release of funds for infrastructure projects intended for disaster mitigation.
The suspension will take effect immediately upon receipt of the order, preventing Estrada from performing his duties as senator for the duration. He has previously denied any wrongdoing, calling the cases politically motivated.