PNP allows Erap to visit brother’s wake

The Philippine National Police (PNP) gave ousted President Joseph Estrada permission yesterday to visit his brother Antonio Ejercito’s wake at the Santuario de San Jose chapel in Greenhills, San Juan.

Estrada’s lawyer Jose Flaminiano said the PNP allowed his client to visit the chapel at 7 p.m. tomorrow and to visit his Polk Street residence to "attend to his personal needs."

"He was allowed (by the PNP) to stay at the chapel and to also go to his residence at Polk Street. Perhaps he could sleep there overnight," Flaminiano said.

Though Estrada was allowed to visit his brother’s wake and to go to his own house in North Greenhills Subdivision in San Juan, Flaminiano said his client "was not allowed to join the funeral march but he could go to the cemetery."

Flaminiano said the PNP also prohibited Estrada from giving any interviews to the media during his stay at the wake and at the cemetery.

Estrada will stay in San Juan until Friday noon, when his brother will be buried at the San Juan cemetery. He will then be taken back to his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, where he is being detained pending the resolution of the corruption charges filed against him before the Sandiganbayan.

Flaminiano said he and Estrada’s other lawyers expect the Sandiganbayan to issue a decision today on their petition asking the anti-graft court’s permission for Estrada to visit his brother’s wake.

"The court could adopt the PNP recommendation or may even adjust the arrangements," he said.

Ejercito, 73, died of cancer at the San Juan Medical Center last Saturday. A lawyer, he is the fifth in a brood of 10 and the fourth of Estrada’s siblings to die following George, Connie and Emilio Jr.

Government lawyers said they are not opposing Estrada’s request provided his visit is subject to certain conditions to be set by the court and by the PNP, which has been tasked to ensure his safety. — Mike Frialde