Jinggoy files 5 bills in detention

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has filed five bills while in detention as he is allowed to perform his duties as legislator after his 90-day suspension over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam ended last Nov. 29.

According to Senate President Franklin Drilon, all of Estrada’s entitlements as a member of the Senate have been reinstated.

Apart from attending the plenary sessions and committee hearings at the Senate, Estrada can perform his other functions, starting with filing bills while in detention.

Last Monday, Estrada filed five bills concerning the protection of victims of violence against women and children (VAWC); identity theft; the operation of dormitories and boarding houses; the regulation of tattoo and body piercing operators; and toilets for persons with special needs and disabilities.

Senate Bill 2476 calls for the provision of substitute addresses in public records for victims of VAWC. Estrada said that it is important to keep the victims safe and far from their abusers and to keep their whereabouts confidential.

His Senate Bill 2477 is pushing for the adoption of a definition for identity theft and the institution of stiff penalties against perpetrators.

His Senate Bill 2478, meanwhile, seeks to ensure that all dormitories and boarding houses are safe, clean and livable through the intervention of local government units.

Estrada also filed Senate Bill 2479, which calls for the regulation of the operation of tattoo and body piercing businesses and its prohibition for minors.

Under Senate Bill 2840, Estrada called for the establishment of separate functional and sanitary comfort rooms for persons with special needs and disabilities.

The five bills were filed by Estrada in the previous Congress and were re-filed under the present Congress.

Files motion for bail

Estrada also filed a motion to fix bail and asked the Sandiganbayan to rule on his request for temporary liberty while undergoing trial for plunder over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Estrada said the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division should act on his petition now, noting that lawyers of the Office of the Ombudsman have yet to show strong evidence that he pocketed commissions from alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles five months since his arrest and detention.

He also said the anti-graft court should cut the bail hearings short and decide based on the witnesses so far presented by the prosecution panel.