At VMMC, government lawyers argue Erap can play golf

Ousted President Joseph Estrada can play golf if he is moved back to a military hospital in Quezon City where he was detained for two years.

State prosecutors opposed yesterday a petition by Estrada’s lawyers asking that their client be moved to his San Juan residence for at least a month so he could prepare to take the witness stand.

The prosecutors insisted that Estrada should be moved back to Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), where he was detained from 2001 to 2003 shortly after his ouster by a military-backed popular uprising.

"I will not object if he will play golf. It is up to them to decide. Anything for his state of mind we will not object to," Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio told reporters after yesterday’s continuation of Estrada’s corruption trial, adding that Estrada may also have all the sun that he wants.

The court said Estrada could not be moved to his posh residence because it had already ruled on the matter, Villa-Ignacio explained. "It cannot be at Polk Street because it will be tantamount to house arrest."

Estrada is detained at his sprawling estate in Tanay, Rizal.

His lawyers had requested house arrest for Estrada at his home in Greenhills, San Juan, so he could meet with witnesses in preparation for taking the witness stand.

They cited the long journey defense witnesses needed to take to see him in Tanay.

They also argued that authorities could listen to their conversations if their client were brought back to the VMMC.

The government would save on costs if their client was allowed to stay at his San Juan residence, defense lawyers added.

They showed a letter from VMMC director Antonio Sison asking the Philippine National Police to settle a P1.7-million bill incurred during Estrada’s detention.

Sison wrote to PNP chief Arturo Lomibao last month requesting payment.

Estrada was detained there from May 2001 to October 2003. His son and co-accused, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, was also detained there with him until March 2003.

The younger Estrada was allowed to post bail by the Sandiganbayan after it found that prosecutors failed to prove that he conspired with his father to run an illegal gambling protection racket during his father’s short-lived presidency.

After a two-year detention at the VMMC, Estrada was transferred to Camp Capinpin, a Philippine Army base in Tanay in October 2003 because of an unspecified "imminent threat" to the former president.

In July 2004, the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court granted Estrada’s petition to place him under "resthouse arrest" at his sprawling villa outside Camp Capinpin.

Estrada critics opposed a house arrest for Estrada in the past, saying it was tantamount to preferential treatment.

Estrada was ousted by a military-backed popular uprising in 2001 and replaced by President Arroyo, who was then vice president.

Prosecutors accuse Estrada of amassing more than P4 billion during his 31-month rule and stashing the proceeds in a secret local bank account during his 31-month presidency. Estrada denies the charges.

Theoretically, Estrada could get the death penalty if convicted.

Estrada maintains he was illegally ousted from the presidency and still enjoys immunity from suit.

His political allies have been waging a campaign since July to oust Mrs. Arroyo over accusations that she cheated to win the May 2004 presidential election.

Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in the House of Representatives quashed an opposition impeachment bid in September, resulting in a protracted political battle that threatens to derail the country’s economic recovery efforts.