Senator Estrada's suspension covers his role in VP impeachment trial — Senator Gatchalian

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s 90-day preventive suspension ordered by the Sandiganbayan would also prevent him from performing his duties as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Gatchalian said the suspension covers all functions attached to Estrada’s position as a senator.

"From what I understand, kapag suspended ka as a senator, kasama na rin ang being a senator- judge," Gatchalian told reporters.

"The suspension is to the senator and it carries with all their responsibility as a senator including being a senator-judge," he said.

The Sandiganbayan Second Division earlier ordered Estrada’s preventive suspension for 90 days in connection with a pending graft case tied to his alleged involvement in the flood control controversy.

Gatchalian acknowledged that Estrada’s absence could affect the Senate’s quorum but maintained that the constitutional threshold for conviction in Duterte’s impeachment trial remains unchanged.

"Malinaw ang Constitution, 2/3 of all members, that's 16. In my opinion, we have to follow the Constitution," he added.

The Senate officially began the pre-trial phase of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings on Thursday, June 18. Earlier, on June 1, the Vice President’s legal team submitted its answer to the Articles of Impeachment and asked the impeachment court to dismiss the case.

-Paraluman News