(MANILA BULLETIN) Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said the bribery conviction rendered against him by the Sandiganbayan will not affect his work as a senator.
Estrada, in an interview over Radio DWIZ, said that as far as he is concerned, the ruling of the anti-graft court is not yet final and executory.
“Hindi pa naman final and executory yung ruling ng Sandiganbayan. Marami pang remedies available for me. Katulad ng motion for reconsideration, kung kinakailangan, pwede pang umakyat sa Korte Suprema (The ruling of the Sandiganbayan is not yet final and executory. There are still many remedies available for me. Like the filing of a motion for reconsideration, and if needed, we can raise this before the Supreme Court),” Estrada said on Saturday, January 16.
“So hindi makakaapekto ito. Ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin yung aking trabaho bilang senador. At syempre yung mandato na binigay sa akin ng taombayan (So this will not affect me. I will still continue my work as a senator. And of course, the mandate given to me by the people),” he added.
Aside from Estrada, the Sandiganbayan also acquitted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in the P183-million Priority Development and Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam, saying there is insufficient evidence to convict them of plunder.
Estrada has elated over his acquittal on plunder charges and vowed to exhaust all legal means to clear his name from the bribery charges.
Under the ruling, the anti-graft court sentenced Estrada to serve prison time for each count of at least two years and four months and a maximum of three years, six months and 20 days.
The ruling also suspended Estrada from holding public office and “perpetual special disqualification” from his right of suffrage.
Nevertheless, Estrada said he and his legal team will file a motion for reconsideration to ensure his acquittal from the bribery charges.
“We cannot be confident, gusto namin malinis ang pagkakagawa ng MR (motion for reconsideration); walang mga loopholes, para at least I pray, na ma grant ng Sandiganbayan ( we want to produce a very clear motion for reconsideration; without any loopholes, so that we pray it will be granted by the Sandiganbayan),” he pointed out.