Erap’s visit to brother’s wake turns into reunion

The wake of lawyer Antonio Estrada late Thursday night turned into an instant reunion for the dead man’s brother, deposed President Joseph Estrada, and his family and friends.

Granted a furlough by the anti-graft court hearing his case, Estrada was clad in polo shirt, beige jacket and trousers as he waved to a crowd of well-wishers and supporters when he arrived in a security convoy with his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito, at past 10 p.m.

His sons Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Jude Estrada and San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito were on hand to welcome him at the Santuario de San Jose chapel in Greenhills East, San Juan. Also present were former members of the Estrada Cabinet as well as supporters from the opposition.

The atmosphere was less tense than last year’s when Estrada visited the wake of his best friend, Fernando Poe Jr. at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

After taking a quick peek at the remains of his brother who died last week of cancer, Estrada spent the rest of the night chatting with close friends and supporters as though to make up for lost time.

"My father is very happy that he was granted permission by the Sandiganbayan for this one," Jinggoy said. The Estrada family is also expecting a grand reunion on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 after the deposed leader was permitted to spend Christmas and New Year with family and visit his ailing mother, the 100-year-old Doña Mary.

Before going to the wake, Estrada dropped in on his mother, also in Greenhills. Doña Mary was recently released from the hospital.

Estrada, who was banned from giving interviews during his short respite of freedom, was flanked by Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Miriam Defensor Santiago in the first row of seats at one of the viewing rooms of the chapel.

The former president was quoted as saying he was "happy" to have been allowed by the Sandiganbayan to leave his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, where he has been under house arrest the past several years on plunder charges.

Estrada, however, wept openly during the Mass for his departed elder brother who was buried yesterday at the San Juan cemetery.

He broke into tears upon hearing Christmas songs rendered by a vocal group during the necrological Mass for Antonio, jointly officiated by Fr. Larry Faraon and the local parish priest.

Estrada was not allowed to attend his brother’s burial past noon. The funeral march passed by the house of Doña Mary, which was the only time she learned that her son had died, according to the town police chief, Superintendent Rodelio Jocson.

The deposed later visited at his mother’s house before returning to Tanay this morning.

At the wake Thursday, opposition leader Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay downplayed reports that the opposition was hatching a coup or possible takeover of the Arroyo government.

Binay, however, noted what he called a "confluence" of events, from former defense chief Fortunato Abat’s condemnation of the Arroyo government to the bolting of Magdalo soldier Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon from custody, to recent exposés on the "Hello, Garci" tapes and the electoral protest of former senator Loren Legarda.

"Malaki talaga ang problema, mahal ang bilihin at gutom ang mga tao... Hindi maganda ang pamamalakad ng Malacañang (There’s a big problem, goods are expensive and people are hungry... Malacañang is not running things properly)," Binay said.

The Palace crumbles with each passing day, Binay said.

And with the detention of Abat, Binay said "anybody who is against (President) GMA is considered as an opposition." — With Non Alquitran