Jinggoy seeks furlough so he can pack up and leave Senate

DETAINED Senator Jinggoy Estrada has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave detention, saying he would pack his things up at the Senate as he is nearing the last day of his term as a legislator.

In a motion filed before the anti-graft court Fifth Division, Estrada told the anti-graft court that he would personally supervise during office hours the “segregation of his personal and office equipment” in the last few days of the Senate session.

Estrada said his things need to be turned over to the Senate custodian of property and equipment.

He added that his personal equipment, belongings and documents need to be removed with his presence and supervision.

In his request, Estrada asked that he be allowed to attend the last days of session – from May 30 to June 2 – between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. “for the purpose of winding up of his affairs at the Senate and to segregate and separate his office and personal equipment.”

Estrada is accused of plunder and graft for allegedly receiving P183 million kickbacks from his Priority Development Assistance Funds which were allegedly spent in ghost projects through the bogus foundations of accused scam 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 due to humanitarian considerations.