Jinggoy asks for 5-hour furlough on mom's birthday

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave his detention for five hours to attend the 85th birthday party of his mother, former Senator Loi Ejercito-Estrada next week.
 

In a four-page motion submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Wednesday, Estrada asked the court to allow him to leave the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City from 8 p.m. on June 2 (Tuesday) until 1 a.m. on June 3 (Wednesday).

He said this will allow him to attend the thanksgiving dinner celebration of his mother at Blue Leaf events pavilion at Filipinas Asiana City in Parañaque.

 

Estrada is currently facing plunder and graft charges for alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds.
 

In convincing the court to grant his motion, Estrada, through his legal counsels, said it was the senator's mother who personally requested her son to file a pleading before the court for a pass from his detention in order "to join her and the whole family on the occasion of her 85th birthday".

 

Estrada said his mother made the personal appeal when she visited him at his detention last Sunday, May 24.

 

"The mother of accused Sen. Jinggoy Estrada informed the undersigned that having reached the age of 85 years old and with her family whole and together, she would  like to give thanks to the Maker and to those who have been part of her life by having a dinner-celebration on June 2, 2015 together with family and friends," the motion read.

 

Estrada's camp also assured the court that the senator will be strictly escorted by the personnel of the PNP Custodial Center.

 

The court gave the prosecution two days to comment on Estrada's motion and the defense one day to reply.
 

Just last March, the Fifth Division had allowed Estrada to leave his detention to attend the high school graduation of his son.

In November last year, he was also allowed by the Fifth Division to undergo four therapy sessions at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan after he complained of shoulder pain. - JJ, GMA News