Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, May 29, described the plunder case filed against Senator Jinggoy Estrada before the Sandiganbayan as “political persecution,” claiming the move was part of an effort to weaken the Senate majority bloc.

In a statement sent to reporters, Marcos questioned the timing of the filing of cases against majority senators, while also criticizing attempts by minority lawmakers to block online participation in Senate proceedings.

“Political persecution. The timing of these cases and the attempt by the minority, who are, by the way, openly aligned with the administration, to block online participation by Senators make it very clear that the cases against Jinggoy and other majority senators are not about justice or accountability. It is about the desperation of the administration to hold on to power,” Marcos said.

Marcos argued that Estrada and other senators facing cases are still presumed innocent and should not be prevented from performing their duties as elected officials.

She also raised concerns about the possible disenfranchisement of voters if senators detained while facing charges are barred from participating in Senate sessions.

“Disenfranchisement ng voters. Ilang milyong tao ang nag halal sa kanila. Mababalewala ‘yun if they are not allowed to participate sa Senado (Millions of people voted for them. That would be disregarded if they are not allowed to participate in the Senate),” Marcos said.

The senator stressed that, except for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the senators facing charges are not fugitives and have complied with court processes.

“Except kay Senator Bato, hindi naman sila ‘fugitive.’ Hindi naman sila pumalag, they complied with whatever court order. Involuntary ang pagka-physically absent nila (Except for Senator Baato, they are not 'fugitives.' They did not resist; they complied with whatever court order. Their physical absence was involuntary),” she said.

Marcos also pointed out that minority senators previously pushed for former Senator Leila de Lima’s continued participation in Senate work while detained

She further challenged minority lawmakers to allow online participation by majority senators if they insist the cases are not politically motivated.

“If the filing of these cases is not political persecution or a plot to diminish the power of the majority by the administration, then the minority senators who are admin aligned should show that such is the case by allowing majority senators to participate,” Marcos said.

Marcos also questioned what harm online participation would cause compared to the impact on millions of voters who elected the majority of senators.

“Ano ang prejudice or injury sa kanila ng online participation? Mas bibigat pa ba ang epekto sa majority bloc nito kaysa sa epekto sa milyon-milyong bumoto sa mga majority senator? (What prejudice or injury would online participation cause them? Would its impact on the majority bloc outweigh the effect on the millions who voted for the majority senators?)” She added.