Senator Jinggoy Estrada (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan denied on Monday the motion of Senator Jinggoy Estrada requesting the court to allow him to leave PNP Custodial Center for three hours to celebrate his birthday this Tuesday, February 17.
Sen. Estrada wished to attend mass in Pinaglabanan Church in San Juan City and to spend time with his family afterwards.
In the resolution signed by 5th division justices, the court says they will set a bad precedent if they will allow the Senator’s request, for it will appear unfair to other detention prisoners.
The court also reminded Sen. Estrada that he is facing plunder and graft charges and he is not entitled to his full political and civil rights.
Sen. Estrada, nevertheless, expressed his wishes for his birthday.
“I hope my bail hearing here in Sandiganbayan will be finished. Of course my utmost wish is for the court to allow me to post bail so I can go back to my family and to my work in the Senate, and be able to travel around the country,” the Senator said.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan 5th division resumed today its hearing on Sen. Estrada’s motion to post bail.
PDAF scam witness Merlina Sunas testified in court her knowledge on Sen. Estrada’s participation in the pork barrel scam.
She said she was the one who deposited Estrada’s kickbacks on an account under a name Juan Ng.
This account was believed to be under the control of Sen. Estrada based on the report released by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Estrada denied all these allegations.
“They are laying the basis of the predicate so they can link Mr. Juan Ng to the AMLC report. I have nothing to do with it. Maybe they have transactions that I do not know,” Estrada said.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan 5th division released on Monday a hold departure order against former APEC Rep. Edgar Valdez who is now also facing plunder charges in relation to the PDAF scam.
Aside from Valdez, separate hold departure orders were also issued against Janet Lim Napoles and 11 other co-accused in graft.
The court said, hold departure orders are necessary to prevent the accused from leaving the country while their cases are still pending in court.
As of the moment, the anti-graft court is studying if there probable cause in the new PDAF cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, and if they find enough merit in the cases, anytime soon, warrants of arrest will be released against all the accused. (Joyce Balancio / UNTV News)