DETAINED Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada has asked the Sandiganbayan’s permission for him to attend the 85th birthday celebration of his mother former senator Loi Estrada.
In a motion filed before the antigraft court Fifth Division, Estrada asked for a five-hour leave from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on June 2 so he could attend her mother’s thanksgiving celebration at Blue Leaf, Filipinas Asiana City in Parañaque.
“The mother of accused Sen. Jinggoy Estrada informed the undersigned that having reached the age of 85 years old and with her family whole and together she would like to give thanks to her Maker and to those who have been part of her life by having a dinner-celebration no June 2, 2015 together with family and friends,” Estrada’s motion said.
Earlier, the court had allowed Estrada to attend the high school graduation of his son Julian Emilio at OB Montessori.
Estrada is facing plunder and graft charges over the pork barrel scam allegedly masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles. His mother Loi herself has been identified by witnesses as also having dealt with Napoles.
Napoles is serving a separate life sentence for the serious illegal detention of pork scam principal whistleblower Benhur Luy.
The hearings on the pork barrel scam have resulted in the detention for plunder of Senators Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile, as well as former representatives Rizalina Seachon Lanete and Edgar Valdez. AC