‘Preferably, I want house arrest but that’s impossible’ – Estrada

Senator Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada said he would have preferred a house arrest but quick to acknowledge that his wish may not come true.

“Kahit saan. Wala naman tayong karapatang magdikta kung saan  ko gusto makulong…” Estrada said in a television interview on Tuesday.

(Anywhere. I cannot dictate where I want to be detained.)

“Syempre kung ako masusunod eh di dito na lang sa bahay, house arrest. Pero imposible yatang mangyari yun,” he said.

(Of course, If I had my way, I want it here in my house, a house arrest. But I think that’s impossible)

Asked about hospital arrest, Estrada said that is out of the question.

“Walang plano (I have no plans),” he said.

Estrada, who has been charged with plunder and graft in connection with the “pork barrel” scam, acknowledged that the decision where to jail him would still be up to the Sandiganbayan.

“So kung dun kami ilalagay sa Camp Crame, walang problema. Kung sasabihin ng Sandiganbayan sa regular jail kami kasama ng mga ordinaryong criminal na nagkasala, wala tayong magagawa …”he further said.

(So if they will place us at Camp Crame, there’s no problem. If the Sandiganbayan will say that we should be in a regular jail along with ordinary criminals, then we can’t do anything about it. )

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