The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Rep. James “Jojo” Ang over pending graft cases involving an alleged conflict of interest.

In an order dated 21 September, the court said preventive suspension of public officials is not automatic but is mandatory under Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act once the legal requirements are met.

“The court trying a case has neither discretion nor duty to determine whether preventive suspension is required to prevent the accused using his [or her] office to intimidate witnesses or frustrate his [or her] prosecution or continue committing malfeasance in office,” the ruling read.

“The law does not require the court to determine whether the accused is likely to escape or evade the jurisdiction of the court,” it added.

The Sixth Division noted that Ang is a sitting member of the House of Representatives and that the informations filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman were valid.

The court previously denied Ang’s motions to quash the charges, after which he pleaded not guilty. The court said any remaining objections to the validity of the informations had been waived.