Senator Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday denied the request of detained Senator Jinggoy Estrada for furlough to administer the oath-taking of his daughter Janella Ejercito, who won as San Juan vice mayor in the recent polls.
In a resolution, the antigraft court said it would be a mockery of the justice system if a detention prisoner is granted furlough for personal reasons.
“It will be a mockery of the justice system if accused-movant Estrada is allowed to leave detention to administer his daughter’s oath of office simply because he desires to do so,” the court said.
The court said it has no reason to grant Estrada’s request especially because it has earlier rejected his similar requests which are personal in nature.
It added that it only grants furlough if the request is an emergency.
The court said should Estrada wish for his daughter to take her oath before him, he should request for the arrangement to be done in his detention cell at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
It added that Estrada’s daughter may take her oath of office before any other persons besides her father.
“There is no justifiable reason to grant him furlough from his detention for such purpose,” the court said.
In his motion filed before court, Estrada asked for leave to attend Janella’s oath of office on June 28, 8 p.m. at Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
He asked the court that he attend the event at his own expense and with the usual security escorts.
He said he feels like it’s his duty as the father to administer his daughter’s oath of office.
READ: Jinggoy seeks furlough to administer daughter’s oath of office
“Considering the importance and significance of this event, it will be a father’s duty, obligation and more importantly, his pride if he will be the one to administer the oath of office to his daughter,” Estrada said in his motion.
“This may very well be his last official act as senator of the Philippines,” the outgoing senator added.
He also asked the court’s permission to attend the special gathering of his family and constituents after Janella’s oath of office at the same venue that will last until 2 a.m. on June 29.
In its opposition, the prosecution said that the movement of Estrada as a detention prisoner must be limited due to his non-bailable charge of plunder.
READ: Jinggoy Estrada furlough bid to oversee daughter’s oath opposed
It added that Estrada’s movement should be restricted especially because his bail petition for plunder had been denied.
The prosecution added that the court cannot depart from its earlier rulings denying Estrada his requests for a temporary leave from detention.
The court earlier denied Estrada’s requests for furlough for Christmas, New Year, and a birthday, among others.
Estrada was also denied furlough to pack up his things and wrap up his duties as senator before his term ends.
“To grant his request would unduly create an impression to the public that accused Estrada, being a high-ranking public official, is a favored detainee over and above other similarly situated detainees,” the prosecution said.
Estrada is accused of plunder for allegedly receiving P183 million in kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Funds which were allegedly spent in ghost projects through the bogus foundations of accused mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.
He was denied bail and remains in police custody with co-accused Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center.
Another accused, the elderly Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, was allowed by the Supreme Court to post bail for humanitarian considerations.
Estrada was also accused of 11 counts of graft for violating Section 3(e) of the antigraft law for allegedly causing injury to government and giving undue preference to the following Napoles’ bogus organizations: Masaganang Ani Para sa Magsasaka Foundation and Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation.
He has sought dismissal of his graft cases for being redundant in the plunder charge. JE/rga
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