IGINIIT ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri na tungkulin pa rin ni Senador Jinggoy Estrada na ipagpatuloy ang kanyang mga trabaho bilang senador sa kabila ng bribery conviction kaugnay ng pork barrel scam.
Sinabi ni Zubiri na maaari pa ring ubusin ni Estrada ang lahat ng legal remedies.
“He has the right to exhaust all of these,” giit ni Zubiri.
“He can still file a Motion for Reconsideration with the Sandiganbayan; he can still file an appeal by certiorari with the Supreme Court,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa desisyon ng Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, napawalang-sala si Estrada sa kasong plunder ngunit hinatulan siya ng direct at indirect bribery kaugnay ng pork barrel scam.
Samantala, sinabi ni Sen. JV Ejercito, kapatid ni Estrada, na dapat igalang ng taumbayan ang pagiging patas ng sistema ng hustisya.
“Our justice system, despite its imperfection, is there to maintain law and order, protect our rights, and provide justice,” ani Ejercito.
Inabswelto ng Sandiganbayan si Estrada sa plunder case na inihain laban sa kanya kaugnay sa tinaguriang priority development assistance fund (PDAF) scam sampung taon na ang nakararaan.
Ang promulgation at hatol ng anti-graft court 5th Division ng Sandiganbayan laban kay Estrada ay inilabas ngayong Enero 19,2024 kaugnay sa P153 billipn PDAF scam na kinasangkutan nito mula taong 2004 to 2010.
“That means to say that I did not steal any money.I did not receive any money.That’s why I would like to thank the magistrates of the Sandiganbayan after one decade.My case has already been resolved.It took almost ten years, but I am still am very very thankful.This is a vindication of my name and I am emerging victorious at this point,”sabi ni Estrada sa panayam sa kanya ng media pagkatapos basahan ng hatol. LIZA SORIANO, MA. LUISA GARCIA