Police ready to transfer Estrada to Crame jail

Philippine National Police officials have readied a cell for ousted President Joseph Estrada at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

But Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said it would not be wise for the government at this time to transfer Estrada to a jail at Camp Crame from the presidential suite of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), also in Quezon City.

"We are not inclined to take that option because that would be most welcome for the defense," he said. "They would use it to agitate Estrada’s hard-core followers. They might say it’s persecution against Erap. The situation is very critical now."

Last Thursday, Prosecutors John Turalba, Antonio Manzano, Ray Olaguer and Humphrey Monteroso told reporters they want Estrada transferred back to a cell in Camp Crame because he is already "physically fit" to attend the twice-a-week trial at the Sandiganbayan.

At Malacañang, President Arroyo said yesterday the issue of Estrada’s detention place is a matter that should be decided by the courts.

"The venue of (Estrada’s) detention is a judicial matter," she said in a statement released by Malacañang. "It is up to the Sandiganbayan to decide on it. We will not intervene."

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Malacañang would prefer that Estrada remain at his present detention quarters at the VMMC.

"As I’ve said, our initial reaction is it would be better if (Estrada) stays in his present detention, but this is the decision of the Sandiganbayan," he said.

Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera, Camp Crame commander, said they are awaiting "formal orders" from the Sandiganbayan before they place Estrada in jail. "Although, we don’t have the formal request yet, we are very much prepared...," he said. "We will be waiting for the orders before we implement them."

De Vera said Estrada would be detained either at the PNP Intelligence Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, or at the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response.

Policemen at Camp Crame are sufficient to guard Estrada and security arrangements would be the same as those at the VMMC, he added.

Villa-Ignacio said he has instructed government prosecutors not to be distracted by "maneuvers" of defense lawyers, especially that it is now their turn to present evidence.

"I told them just to concentrate on the plunder case," he said. "We should not be diverted from that focus. At this point, we shall not be diverted from the plunder case."

Estrada has been detained at the VMMC since May 2001.

His son and co-accused, former San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada was freed on bail last March 7.