  In this paper we use the ratio of the corrections to the standard
Newtonian/Einsteinian secular precessions of the longitudes of perihelia of
Jupiter and Saturn, recently estimated by the Russian astronomer E.V. Pitjeva
by fitting almost one century of data with the EPM ephemerides, to make an
independent, planetary-based test of the hypothesis that the Pioneer anomaly
(PA), as it is presently known in the 5-10 AU region, is of gravitational
origin. Accounting for the errors in the determined apsidal extra-rates and in
the values of the PA acceleration at the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn the
answer is negative. If and when the re-analysis of the entire Pioneer 10/11
will be completed more firm conclusions could be reached. Moreover, it would
also be important that other teams of astronomers estimate independently their
own corrections to the perihelion precessions.
