3 solons face expulsion–Drilon

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MANILA — Three senators charged with plunder because of their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam may be expelled from the rolls, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday.

The three senators including Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. were earlier charged with plunder for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the alleged pork scam mastermind, Janet Lim Napoles.

In order to expel a senator, petitions for expulsion must be processed in the Senate committee on ethics.

Along with the process of expulsion, the co-legislators will be judging the candidates for expulsion.

Drilon, however added that as the plunder cases of the three senators are still being tackled in the anti-graft court, there are still no moves in the Senate to start the process.

Drilon reiterated that the three senators, including Estrada and Revilla who voluntarily turned themselves over to the police after their warrant, are facing a 90-day suspension.

“The suspension is automatic against the accused once a petition to suspend them is filed by the Ombudsman,” the Senate president said, explaining the processes.

Drilon also added that the process of expulsion may start after the 90-day suspension.

Regarding the hearing of the plunder cases, Drilon reacted to reports that the Sandiganbayan may issue judgement in the next two years saying that he will build monuments for the justices who will make this happen.

“Tatayuan ko ng rebulto yung mga justices kung matatapos nga nila ng two years. That is how I believe na talagang mabagal, kaya itatayo ko ng rebulto ang Sandiganbayan justices pag natapos po ito ng dalawang taon,” he said.

[I will build monuments for the justices if they finish (hearing the cases) in two years. That is how I believe that it is really slow, so I’ll build monuments for the justices if they finish it in two years.]