Philippine Senator Jinggoy Estrada waves to the media and supporters as he is escorted to his detention cell after surrendering to police authorities Monday, June 23, 2014 at Philippine National Police headquarters at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. AP
MANILA, Philippines–Unlike Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., , his new cellmate Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada is not griping about his detention room and he seemed to be at home with his new environment.
“He (Estrada) had no complaints at all. Maayos naman talaga at kayang kaya niya ‘yung init (The room was fine and he can bear the heat),” Lawyer Alexis Abastillas-Suarez, Estrada’s counsel, told reporters in Camp Crame.
When Revilla entered the jail for the first time, he immediately complained of severe migraine aggravated by the heat at the detention facility at PNP Custodial Center, which he now shares with Estrada.
This is the second time Estrada was put behind bars. He was detained from 2001 to 2003 for plunder charges but was later acquitted.
As ordered by the separate divisions of the Sandiganbayan, both senators were committed to Camp Crame Custodial Center.
Two of the four units at the high-security detention bungalow have been occupied by the two legislators.
Also unlike Revilla, Estrada’s mugshot was not released by the PNP Public Information Office.
According to Suarez, making public the mugshots of the accused is an “irregular practice” by the PNP.
“We were actually shocked to see Senator Revilla’s mugshot released to the media,” she told INQUIRER.net.
On Friday, the PNP PIO sent to the media the photos of Revilla undergoing booking procedures, including the taking of his mugshot.
But for Estrada, the police only released his photo with father and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada turning him over to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Benjamin Magalong.
”The family and lawyers of Estrada thank the PNP for respecting his integrity,” Suarez added.
As for the senator’s health, Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP PIO chief, said that Estrada’s health was normal.
His blood pressure was at 110/70 with pulse rate at 76 beats per minute and body temperature at 36.3 degree celsius.
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