The camp of Senator Jinggoy Estrada is set to request the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan to allow him to attend court hearings through online video conferencing. During the senator's appearance in court yesterday, his lawyer presented the request to the presiding judge, seeking permission for the senator to participate remotely in future proceedings. If approved, Estrada would no longer need to personally appear in court for hearings related to his case.
Reason for the request
According to the defense, the request aims to enable the detained senator to fulfill his duties as a lawmaker while his case is ongoing. The camp hopes that through this arrangement, Senator Estrada can attend Senate sessions, caucuses, and committee hearings while the case against him progresses at the Sandiganbayan.
Judge's response
Presiding Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of the Sandiganbayan Second Division stated that she sees no issue with the request. She noted that the Supreme Court has approved such a setup, and it is already being used in other courts across the country. However, she clarified that the Sandiganbayan has no authority over the Senate's directives regarding the senator's legislative duties.
The court will decide on the matter in the coming days. The development comes as part of ongoing efforts to balance judicial proceedings with legislative responsibilities.
