Sandigan bars Erap from Ateneo reunion

The Sandiganbayan barred yesterday ousted President Joseph Estrada from attending his Ateneo high school class’ 50th annual reunion today.

Ruling on the request of Estrada’s classmates, the anti-graft court’s special division said there was no merit in the petition of the Eagle High School ’55 Foundation Inc.

"The Court finds no imperative humanitarian consideration or time-honored Filipino custom or tradition which can convince the Court to grant the motion," read the Sandiganbayan’s decision.

"While this Court has previously allowed the accused to attend certain important events, the holding of a special concert to commemorate a high school class reunion, even if it be a golden jubilee, does not appear to be such an important occasion that

would reasonably justify the Court’s permission and thereby entail additional and considerable government expenses to safeguard the accused’s security and safety," it said.

The resolution was signed by Justices Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Francisco Villaruz Jr. and Diosdado Peralta.

The Eagle High School ’55 Foundation, led by its president Antonio Lopa, had asked the special division to allow Estrada to attend the reunion and benefit concert at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City at 7:30 tonight.

"We will be most favored if you can grace this once-in-a-lifetime event with your presence," Lopa said in his letter of invitation to Estrada last Nov. 4.

"After all, not too many are blessed with the rare privilege of celebrating their golden jubilee. We sincerely hope you can come," he said.

Former senator Rene Saguisag, Estrada’s lead counsel, said the defense was saddened and disappointed by the decision of the Sandiganbayan.

"We are disappointed," he said.

"Unfortunately, there is no more room to file a reconsideration. This event only appears every 50 years. This is not the kind of strict attitude that we see against the Marcoses. Kung mahigpit sa lahat (If they are strict to everybody), why not? But this is litigation, you win some, you lose some," Saguisag said.

He added he would advise Estrada not to ask the court to allow him to attend the upcoming wedding of a sister of Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr.

"I will be advising him against it," he said. "Ang pag-ninong ay pwedeng may proxy, ang golden jubilee ay wala (A proxy godfather can be sent to a wedding, but not in a golden jubilee)," he said.

Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio said it would be cheaper for the government if Estrada were moved to the Veterans’ Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City rather than to his house on Polk street in North Greenhills Subdivision in San Juan.

"They (defense lawyers) say it would be expensive to have former President Estrada transferred to the VMMC," he said.

"But government will only be spending about P1,700 per day based on the P1.7-million bill divided on his length of stay at the VMMC."

Villa-Ignacio estimated the amount based on the P1.7 million bill for electricity and water presented by defense lawyers to the special division.

The P1.7 million in unpaid electricity and water bills would be "very easy" to settle as it would be like "transferring money from one pocket of the government to another," he added.

Villa-Ignacio said that what would be really expensive would be the requested appearance of Estrada at the benefit musical and reunion of Ateneo high school class today.

At least P500,000 would be needed to foot the bill for deploying at least 200 police and military personnel to secure Estrada at the concert, he added.

At present, Estrada is under "rest house arrest" at his sprawling 18-hectare estate in Tanay, Rizal.

The water and electricity bills were incurred by Estrada and his security personnel during his detention at the VMMC from May 2001 to Oct. 16, 2003.

It remains unpaid despite several demand letters sent by the VMMC to the Philippine National Police, which had custody of Estrada at the time.