Senator Jinggoy Estrada's salary and other Senate benefits have been temporarily suspended in connection with his 90-day preventive suspension imposed by the Sandiganbayan.

Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that the suspension of the senator's compensation runs concurrent with his preventive suspension, though the operations of Estrada's office will continue during this period.

The resolution issued by the Sandiganbayan Second Division has already taken effect.

"The Senate President officially notified the office of Senator Estrada that the suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan will be implemented, or was implemented, beginning Monday, June 22. The salaries and benefits will have to be suspended because you are not allowed to perform your functions in office," Bantug said.

(Opisyal na ipinaalam ng Senate President sa tanggapan ni Senator Estrada na ang kautusan ng suspension na inilabas ng Sandiganbayan ay ipapatupad, o ipinatupad na, simula Lunes, Hunyo 22. Ang mga sahod at benepisyo ay kailangang suspindihin dahil hindi ka pinahihintulutang gampanan ang iyong mga tungkulin sa opisina.)

Estrada was placed under suspension by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a graft case stemming from a flood control scandal. The court ordered his suspension from his current position as a legislator and from any other public position he may hold.

Bantug Jr. clarified, however, that the operations of the senator's office will not be halted during the suspension period.

"The suspension is automatically lifted after 90 days, so the office is still there. The staff can still continue to function because at a certain point the suspension will be lifted. I'll be submitting my recommendation to the Senate President regarding those matters," Bantug added.

(Awtomatikong maaangat ang suspension pagkatapos ng 90 araw, kaya naman nandoon pa rin ang opisina. Maaari pa ring magpatuloy ang mga kawani dahil sa isang punto ay maaangat na ang suspension. Isusumite ko ang aking rekomendasyon sa Senate President tungkol sa mga bagay na iyon.)

It is worth noting that even before his arrest and suspension, Estrada had already put his salary as a legislator on hold while he was reportedly clearing his name in the case, citing this as proof that he had no intention of benefiting from public funds.

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