Jinggoy seeks furlough to vote in San Juan, undergo shoulder check-up

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, detained in connection with the pork barrel scam, has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave his detention on May 9, election day, so that he can cast his vote in San Juan City.

In a two-page motion dated April 28, Estrada, through his legal counsel, asked the court's Fifth Division to stay at his polling precinct at Xavier School in San Juan City for two hours or from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 9 in order to cast his vote.

“On the matter of his right to vote, it is every citizen’s duty and constitutional right to vote. Not only it is a right and duty but failure to exercise said right can lead to disenfranchisement of his right of suffrage,” Estrada’s motion read.

Estrada said there is no polling precinct at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center where he is currently detained.

The senator further pointed out that while detention prisoners at the PNP Custodial Center would be allowed to vote on May 9, voting there will be limited to national positions only.

“Accused-movant’s daughter is running for a local position at San Juan and he would like to exercise his right of suffrage at his voter’s precinct at Xavier School to be able to vote for the national and local positions,” his motion said.

Estrada’s daughter Janella Ejercito is running for vice mayor of San Juan.

Estrada promised to shoulder all the expenses that the PNP Custodial Center will incur for escorting him to and from San Juan.

The son of former President and incumbent Manila mayor Joseph Estrada is detained for plunder and graft charges in connection with his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Meanwhile, in the same motion, Estrada also asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to undergo a medical check-up “as soon as possible” at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan or at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila.
                
Estrada said he has been experiencing pain on his right shoulder for almost a month now, “unrelieved by rest and medications”.

He said his private physician, Dr. Raymond Nuñez, who visited him at his detention, recommended that he undergoes X-ray and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests of his shoulders “to determine the cause of his pain.”

“Considering accused’s health issues, there is need for him to undergo immediate X-RAY and MRI of his right shoulder as recommended by Dr. Nuñez,” Estrada's motion said.

Estrada reminded the anti-graft court that it has earlier allowed him on several occasions to undergo therapy sessions at Cardinal Santos Medical Center due to his frozen shoulder.

Estrada had earlier claimed that the PNP Custodial Center does not have an MRI apparatus and other testing equipment to address his shoulder pain condition.

Meanwhile, in a brief hearing Monday morning, the prosecution was given only until Tuesday to file its comment or opposition on Estrada’s motion, after which the motion is deemed submitted for resolution. —KBK, GMA News