No auto suspension vs 'pork congressmen' - SB

MANILA, Philippines - Any member of the House of Representatives who would be charged in connection with the P10 billion pork barrel scam will not automatically be suspended, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said on Tuesday.

Belmonte noted that there is nothing in the rules of the Lower House regarding the automatic suspension of a congressional district representative facing graft charges.

"In the first place  our House Rules do not provide for anything like that, and they will continue to be a member. If they are charged with plunder, they may end up at the detention," the House Speaker said.

Belmonte cited that those congressmen who would be detained while their cases are being tried before the Sandiganbayan can do what Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV did.

"Gagawin na lang siguro nilang example si Trillanes. Holding office from a ‘kwan’ ano ha? On the other hand, if they are allowed to bail out, let’s say ang charge is anti-graft di makaka bail out ka dyan basta less than P50 million ang involved, then they come here and be treated like any other congressman.

"Personally I would not attach any kind of odium to that dahil sa naniniwala pa naman tayo sa ating prime rule na inosente ka hanggang hindi ka napo-prove guilty," Belmonte said.

Trillanes had been in detention for rebellion charges while serving his term as senator.