Sandigan allows Jinggoy Estrada to attend son’s graduation

Detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday allowed Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to attend the graduation rites of his son on Tuesday.

During the bail hearing of Estrada’s plunder case, Associate Justice Roland Jurado said the court granted Estrada’s request for furlough to attend Julian Emilio’s graduation  not for the detained senator but for the child.

“If Estrada will not be around, that will be traumatic for the child. We are not doing this for Senator Estrada. We’re doing this for the child,” Jurado said in court.

Estrada’s son Julian Emilio will be graduating from highschool at the OB Montessori on Tuesday.

The court only allowed him a three-hour furlough as opposed to his motion to leave his detention place at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center from 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Detained for plunder over the pork barrel scam, Estrada in his motion had asked for more time after the graduation so he could join picture taking with his family.

“(I)t can be expected that after the program, time will be needed and allotted for taking of pictures for posterity and memoir up to  around 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.” the  motion said.

But Estrada in a supplemental motion said his request for furlough is  from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  or around the time period of the graduation ceremony.

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