Sandiganbayan allows Erap to visit mother

The Special Division of the Sandiganbayan yesterday granted ousted President Joseph Estrada permission to visit his ailing 102-year old mother on Monday.

In a two-page resolution, the Special Division gave Estrada permission to visit his mother Doña Mary Ejercito at her house in Kennedy Street in Greenhills, San Juan from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. In issuing the resolution, the Special Division acted on the supplemental motion filed last Nov. 2 by Estrada through his lawyer, former senator Rene Saguisag.

The court which earlier denied Estrada’s request to spend All Saints’ Day with his mother and to stay with her until Nov. 3, said the one-day pass was issued to the former president after considering the comment of the prosecution panel to limit the visit to just one day.

In denying the request for a three-day pass, the court cited the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) opposition to the request saying they needed more time to prepare Estrada’s security from his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal where he is being detained to his mother’s residence in Greenhills, San Juan.

"Taking into account the PNP’s objection to the said motion considering the short period of time for it to undertake the necessary preparations to ensure the security of the accused-movant, the court hereby denies the aforesaid motion," said the Special Division.

It would be recalled that the PNP said that they are not objecting to Estrada visiting his mother after Nov. 3.

The Special Division composed of chairperson Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Rodolfo Ponferrada, also ordered the PNP Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) to coordinate with the Sandiganbayan’s Sheriff Office regarding the security arrangements for Estrada when he is transported from his resthouse in Tanay to Greenhills and back.

In addition, the court also ordered the PSPO to control and supervise all of Estrada’s visitors, including the media. The court ordered that all media interviews would be disallowed except upon order of the court.

Estrada was also prohibited by the court to use electronic communication devises and cellular phones while he is under the supervision of the PNP at his mother’s house.

The Sandiganbayan earlier granted Estrada’s request to visit his mother on weekends provided that he would formally file a request before the court for each of the visits.

In his one page supplemental motion, Saguisag said that with All Saints’ Day over, the PNP could now probably deal with Estrada’s security arrangements.