Erap seeks court pass to attend brother’s wake

Lawyers for ousted President Joseph Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan yesterday to allow him to attend the wake and burial of his elder brother in San Juan.

In an urgent motion filed before the Special Division of the anti-graft court, Estrada’s counsel and former Senator Rene Saguisag told the court that Estrada requested him to seek the court’s permission and allow him to visit the wake of his brother Antonio Ejercito.

Ejercito , 72, died of cancer at the San Juan Medical Center in San Juan last Sunday and now lies in state at the Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills, San Juan. The burial is scheduled on Friday at the San Juan Cemetery.

A lawyer, Antonio is the fifth in a brood of 10. He finished a law degree at the University of Manila and is the fourth sibling of the former President to die, following George, Connie and Emilio Jr.

Estrada’s mother, Mary Marcelo-Ejercito, is still alive at 100 years old.

"As another sibling goes, it strikes all of us how easy is it to appreciate that all concerned see, recognize and accept that their allotted time on earth becomes shorter and shorter. Here today, gone tomorrow, as it were," Saguisag said.

Saguisag’s fellow lead counsel, former Manila City Hall chief fiscal Jose Flaminiano said that they are asking the court to allow Estrada to leave his Tanay, Rizal resthouse where he is being detained and attend his brother’s wake from Thursday noon and until the burial at the San Juan Cemetery on Friday.

Government lawyers yesterday said they are not opposing Estrada’s request provided that his visit will be subjected to certain conditions to be set by the court and by the Philippine National Police which is tasked with his security.

"We will not oppose as long as his visit is limited to the site of the wake and from there, back to Tanay and subject to the security of the PNP," said Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio.

Villa-Ignacio also expressed his opposition to the request of defense lawyers that Estrada be allowed to stay at his Polk Street residence for the duration of his visit to the wake. Villa-Ignacio likewise opposed the defense lawyers’ request that Estrada be allowed to participate in his brother’s funeral march.

Estrada’s lawyers also asked the court yesterday to grant him a 10-day Christmas furlough at his Polk Street residence from Dec.23 to Jan. 3, 2006.

Saguisag, in his motion, told the court that even during Martial Law, Christmas furloughs were sought and granted by the court to such detainees as the late Senator Benigno Aquino and members of the April 6 Liberation Movement whom he also represented.