Jinggoy prefers house arrest over prison

MANILA, Philippines — While he thinks it is impossible, beleaguered Senator Jinggoy Estrada wants to be placed under house arrest instead of being detained in a regular cell or in Camp Crame.

In a phone-patch interview on GMA News' "Unang Balita" on Tuesday, Estrada said he will accept the decision of the Sandiganbayan on where the personalities charged in connection with the pork barrel scam will be jailed.

"Kung doon kami ilalagay sa Camp Crame, walang problema. Kung sasabihin ng Sandiganbayan na sa regular jail kami kasama ng mga ordinaryong kriminal o nagkasala, wala tayong magagawa," Estrada told GMA News.

But if he had it his way, Estrada said he would like to be placed under house detention.

"Kahit saan, wala naman tayong karapatan na magdikta kung saan ko gustong makulong. Eh siyempre kung ako masusunod, dito na lang sa bahay, house arrest. Pero imposible yatang mangyari iyon," Estrada said.

The senator also denied that he has plans to seek hospital arrest.

Last year, Estrada revealed that he was building another house at the posh Wack Wack subdivision in Mandaluyong City for P120 million.

Estrada's statements came after the Philippine National Police showed to the media the facilities at the Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

The facilities could serve as temporary detention cells for Estrada and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr., who have been charged with plunder at the Sandiganbayan for allegedly conniving with businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles in the diversion of their pork barrel funds to bogus foundations.

The STAR reported on Tuesday that the new detention cells are much more comfortable than the regular jails.

Read: Pork jail more comfortable than regular cells

Estrada has maintained that he has no plans to escape the country and evade arrest. In a privilege speech at the Senate last week, he also insisted that he is innocent.

He did not announce his resignation but Estrada hinted that he may not attend Senate sessions when Congress reopens in July. -Louis Bacani

Read: Jinggoy to 'vacate' Senate seat but vows to surrender once arrest ordered