Erap seeks deferment of ‘plunder ads’ hearing

The co-lead counsel of former President Joseph Estrada and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in their plunder case yesterday asked the Sandiganbayan Special Division to reset the hearing scheduled today for the so-called “Erap Plunder Ads.”

In his three-page urgent motion, lawyer Rene Saguisag said he was at the Sandiganbayan last Wednesday for a hearing of another case and asked his driver to serve and file their motion seeking guidelines in media advertising.

After the hearing, his representative had told him that the receiving clerk had called his attention to the lapse in the date in their motion, where he asked the anti-graft court for a hearing on July 14, which is a Saturday. The date should have been July 13.

Saguisag reiterated that not everyone involved in the case was properly informed about the clerical error. So to ensure that everyone can attend the hearing on the correct date, he had sought to reschedule the hearing.

Saguisag also said that even with the motion filed, he and lawyer Jose Flaminiano would still go to the Sandiganbayan Special Division today just in case the anti-graft court would push through with the hearing.  – Sandy Araneta