Responding to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s allegations of selective justice during the Senate Kontra-SONA, the Palace on Wednesday said it is of the opinion that the Sandiganbayan does not believe Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are “political prisoners.”

In a press briefing at the Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Cayetano’s views differ from the anti-graft court’s, and that the decision to let the two senators practice their professions is entirely up to the court, not Cayetano.

“Kung iyan po ang kaniyang paniniwala, hindi naman din po siguro ito ang paniniwala ng Sandiganbayan. Iba ang kaniyang pananaw, iba rin naman ang pananaw ng mga korte. At sinasabi niya, dapat ay ma-bail out sila or mabigyan ng pagkakataon na mag-post ng bail, hindi po kay Senator Alan Cayetano ang pagpapasya; nasa korte, nasa Sandiganbayan,” she said.

Marcoleta has pleaded “not guilty” of plunder and violation of a presidential decree prohibiting government officials from receiving gifts. Estrada is behind bars for plunder as well.