Loi laments Estrada’s detention conditions

Maximum security prisoners are better off than jailed President Joseph Estrada who is not even allowed to bask in the sunshine, the ousted leader’s wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito said the other night.

Prior to her departure Wednesday night for a mammography test in San Francisco, California, the neophyte senator said Estrada is not even allowed to leave his room for a walk at the Veterans Memorial Hospital where he is held prisoner.

"My husband, President Estrada, is not even allowed to walk under the morning sunshine inside the compound of the hospital. This is a violation of his basic human rights," Ejercito said, adding that maximum security prisoners in Muntinlupa City are more privileged than him.

She said the health of her husband is fast deteriorating, further aggravated by a worsening pain in both his knees that require immediate operation, otherwise he may not be able to walk again.

The hospital room where the former president is held is heavily curtained for security reasons that not even a ray of sunshine could peak in.

"Hindi na niya alam ang gabi sa araw. Awang-awa na ako sa kanya (He can no longer tell night from day. I really feel sorry for him)," the senator said, holding back tears.

Ejercito also said the primary purpose of her trip is to convince American surgeon Christopher Mow of the Stanford Hospital to come to Manila to operate on the knees of her husband.

The senator’s trip to the US was allowed by the Sandiganbayan, where she is a co-accused in her husband’s plunder case being tried by the anti-graft court.

She was accompanied by her son Jude, daughter Jackie Lopez and grandson Beaver Lopez Jr. – Rey Arquiz