Estrada asks Sandigan: Let me attend, watch poll canvass

Senator Jinggoy Estrada on Friday asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to attend the canvassing of votes for the President and Vice President in the 2016 elections.

In a motion filed before the anti-graft court Fifth Division, Estrada asked the court to allow him to still fulfill his duties as senator even as he is detained for plunder over the alleged pork barrel scam.

Under the Constitution, both Houses of Congress is tasked with conducting the canvassing of election results for President and Vice President.

“Senator Estrada has no intention of shirking from his duty as a senator and his Constitutional mandate with respect to the impending election of President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he is not seeking temporary liberty from detention but only an opportunity to fulfill his duties as senator.

“It is likewise important to note that Sen. Estrada does not seek temporary liberty from his detention but merely that provision be made to allow him to comply with his legal and Constitutional duties and perform his functions as a public servant,” the motion read.

Estrada is accused of receiving P183 million in kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) through alleged ghost projects using the bogus foundations of accused pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles

Estrada had been denied bail by the Sandiganbayan after over a year of hearing his bail petition. Due to Estrada’s signatures in pertinent documents endorsing the bogus foundations which implemented his ghost projects, the court even said Estrada is “the apex of the PDAF scam.”

READ: Sandigan denies Jinggoy bail plea

He is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center with colleague Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. Revilla’s bail plea was denied by the Sandiganbayan in December 2014 just months after he surrendered in June 2014.