‘No one is above the law’ – Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. Photo courtesy of Drilon’s official Facebook page.

MANILA — Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Friday that the plunder charges filed against his co-senators, after their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, must be respected.

Drilon said in a statement that “no one is above the law” and that the charges filed by the Ombudsman against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., is “part of the constitutional and legal process.”

“The search for truth may be painful, but this is a process that strengthens our government institutions and reinforces the trust and confidence of our people in our justice system. We are a government of laws, not of men,” Drilon said. 

He also said that, part of the hearing in the Sandiganbayan, the defense would also be given “its day in court” in order to “present its witnesses and evidence.”

Drilon also added that the Senate will follow the process according to the rule of law and the Constitution.

“We will abide by any orders to be issued by the Sandiganbayan,” he said.

“We hope that the Sandiganbayan will set the case for speedy trial so that the innocent would be cleared and freed, and the guilty punished and jailed,” he added. 

With reports from Philippine Star, ABS-CBN News