Sandigan denies Susan’s request to visit Erap

Showbiz well-wishers of former President Joseph Estrada will have to text or fax their birthday greetings instead of delivering them in person.

The Sandiganbayan has turned down the request of actress Susan Roces and other showbiz personalities to visit Estrada today at his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, where he is being detained while on trial for plunder.

In a three-page resolution, the justices of the Special Division said the refusal of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to guarantee the safety of Estrada and his guests compelled them to deny the motion filed by lead defense counsel René Saguisag.

Last week, Roces and 43 showbiz celebrities, including comedian Dolphy and movie actor Eddie Garcia, asked the Sandiganbayan for permission to visit Estrada.

The visit would allow them to greet Estrada in advance of his 68th birthday on April 19, Saguisag said in his motion.

The visit would have also allowed the celebrities to attend the "inauguration" of the memorabilia collection that Estrada had begun in honor of the late action star Fernando Poe Jr.

Poe, who died last December, was the husband of Roces and considered to be Estrada’s best friend.

"The host would like to honor his late bosom buddy, FPJ, who has been acclaimed an outstanding Filipino and decent human being," Saguisag said.

But in its two-page comment, the PNP said the presence of celebrity guests would require the deployment of more police officers, a diversion of resources that the PNP could "ill afford" at a time when the government had stepped up its campaign against terrorism.

"There is simply nothing in the law from which the grounds cited in the motion of Estrada could be justified and it would be for his safety and security that the proposed visit and activity should be dispensed with," the PNP said.

Government prosecutors had no objections to the visit but sought an assurance from the PNP that it could handle the influx of guests.

"Ms. Susan Roces et al can visit the former president provided the Philippine National Police can (ensure) the safety and security of Estrada," deputy prosecutor Robert Kallos told the court.

This concern was shared by Justice Francisco Villaruz, who ordered the PNP to comment on the defense motion.

"We are duty-bound to ensure his safety," he said.