Jinggoy allowed to attend son’s graduation

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan yesterday granted detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s request to attend the graduation of his son, Julian Emilio Ejercito, at OB Montessori in Greenhills, San Juan today.

Estrada was given a three-hour furlough from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“If Estrada will not be around, that will be traumatic for the child,” Associate Justice Roland Jurado, chairman of the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, said.

“We are not doing this for Sen. Estrada. We’re doing this for his son,” he added.

Estrada earlier asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to attend his son’s graduation. “It is the dream of every parent to see his son accepting a diploma,” he said.

Estrada is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame along with Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

They are facing trial for plunder for alleged misuse of their Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations from 2007 to 2009.

Estrada, Revilla and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile were accused of pocketing public funds through alleged kickbacks or commissions from alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.