Sandiganbayan orders former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo suspended for 90 days

Sandiganbayan Building along Commonwealth, Quezon City. Photo courtesy of DGR Law Offices.

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Fourth Division on Tuesday ordered former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to be suspended from office pendite lite (preventive suspension) and cease and desist from performing and/or exercising the functions and duties of a representative.

The four-page decision signed by Associate Justices Gregory Ong; Jose Hernandez and Maria Cristina Cornejo also ruled that the solon’s salary, benefits and privileges as public official including those other public office or position she may now be holding is suspended for the period of 90 days effective upon notice hereof.

“The honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives shall enforce this suspension order. He, or his duly authorized representative shall apprise this court in writing within 5 days from notice of action taken to enforce the resolution, including actual date when the accused public officer commenced to serve her suspension and the expiration of the 90-day period suspension at which time such suspension shall be deemed automatically lifted and set aside,” the resolution read.

The order was in connection with the failed US$ 329 million NBN ZTE deal which then President Arroyo entered into.