Manila: A 90-day suspension has been imposed by the anti-graft Sandiganbayan court against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada in connection with his alleged role in the misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Funds, also known as pork barrel funds.

A resolution issued by the Sandiganbayan 5th division special court said, Estrada, 51, was suspended from his position as Senator and is barred from holding any other public office, “unless a motion for recommendation is seasonably filed.”

The resolution was issued by Sandiganbayan Fifth Division chairperson Associate Justice Roland Jurado with Associate Justices Alexander Germundo and Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta.

In June, a case for “plunder” was filed against Estrada as well as Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile and Ramon “Bong” Revilla for their role in the diversion of an estimated P10 billion (Dh836 million) in pork barrel funds over several years.

Estrada has been charged with plunder and 11 counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly amassing P183 million in kickbacks after allocating money from the PDAF to non-existent non-government organisations (NGO).

In relation to this, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Friday that the Senate would fully implement a preventive suspension issued by the Sandiganbayan against Estrada.

“The Senate will abide by the process in accordance with the Constitution and the laws,” he said.

“The Senate will respect every step in the investigation of this case. We will fully abide by the preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan and we will implement the order,” he emphasised.

The suspension issued against Estrada is the latest development in a political saga that has riled the country’s second highest elective institution after the presidency and vice presidency.

Several weeks ago, the Office of the Ombudsman successively ordered the arrest and detention of the Senators — who all belong to the political opposition — as the judiciary convenes the special anti-graft court.

The suspension order issued against Estrada effectively bars him from performing his tasks as a legislator and prevents him from invoking his immunity from arrest.

“A senator who is preventively suspended cannot in any manner perform the function of his office within the duration of preventive suspension. He is barred from attending sessions, filing bills, holding committee hearings and signing committee reports,” said Drilon, a lawyer and former justice secretary.

However, Drilon clarified that the suspension will not affect the functions of the Committee on Labour, which Estrada chairs, because it shall be taken over by the vice chairman who will attend to pending bills in the committee.

“We will continue to function despite the suspension order. The Senate is not about the senators and it is not about the pork barrel scam controversy. We have a mandate to fulfil and with our performance during the First Regular Session, we have proven that the Senate could not be hampered by any controversy,” emphasised Drilon.