Representative James Ang Jr. of the Uswag Ilonggo Party-list has been suspended by the Sandiganbayan pending the resolution of the 14 counts of graft filed against him.
The anti-graft court ordered a 90-day suspension for Ang from his seat in the House of Representatives and any other public office he holds or might hold in the future.
The preventive suspension is required under Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act to prevent the lawmaker from using his position to influence the ongoing judicial proceedings.
“The court trying a case has neither discretion nor duty to determine whether preventive suspension is required to prevent the accused from using his [or her] office to intimidate witnesses or frustrate his [or her] prosecution or continue committing malfeasance in office,” the Sandiganbayan stated.
The suspension stemmed from criminal complaints filed against Ang, charging him with violations of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
According to the Sandiganbayan, the charges are premised on Ang’s alleged financial or pecuniary interest in Allencon Development Corporation (Allencon).IMT
