Sandiganbayan denies Erap’s request

The Sandiganbayan Special Division on Monday denied jailed ex-president Joseph Estrada’s request for a two-week extension to prepare his testimony before the anti-graft court. Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta said the 14-day extension sought by Estrada’s lawyers is “too long." The court gave Estrada one more week to prepare his testimony. Estrada was supposed to take the witness stand on Wednesday, but the court on Monday reset the hearing on March 22. Estrada’s lawyers earlier told the court that the former leader would not be ready to testify on March 15. Former Senator Rene Saguisag, co-lead counsel for Estrada, said the eye operation undergone by Estrada prevented him from reviewing the transcripts of the testimonies of other witnesses. Jose Flaminiano, co-lead counsel for Estrada, appealed for a longer period to prepare the former president, invoking Estrada’s right to due process. - GMANews.TV