Jinggoy asks Sandiganbayan for furlough to attend to mom’s birthday

Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada submits his son, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada to the Philippine National Police through PNP CIDG Director, Police Director Benjamin Magalong before undergoing mandatory booking procedure at Camp Crame, Quezon City after the Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued the Warrant of Arrest against the Senator in connection with a Plunder Case. (PNP-PIO)

MANILA — Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday asked the anti-graft court for a five-hour furlough to attend the 85th birthday party of his mother, former Senator Loi Ejercito-Estrada next week.

In his four-page motion submitted to the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, he asked the court to allow him to leave the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City from 8 p.m. on June 2 (Tuesday) until 1 a.m. on June 3 (Wednesday).

He said this would allow him to attend the thanksgiving dinner celebration of his mother at Blue Leaf events pavilion at Filipinas Asiana City in Parañaque City.

Estrada is currently facing plunder and graft charges for alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds.

He said in his motion that it was the senator’s mother who personally requested her son to file a pleading before the court for a pass from his detention in order “to join her and the whole family on the occasion of her 85th birthday.”

Estrada said his mother made the personal appeal when she visited him at his detention last Sunday, May 24.

“The mother of accused Sen. Jinggoy Estrada informed the undersigned that having reached the age of 85 years old and with her family whole and together, she would like to give thanks to the maker and to those who have been part of her life by having a dinner-celebration on June 2, 2015 together with family and friends,” the motion read.

Estrada’s camp also assured the court that the senator will be strictly escorted by the personnel of the PNP Custodial Center.

The court gave the prosecution two days to comment on Estrada’s motion and the defense one day to reply.

Just last March, the Fifth Division allowed Estrada to attend the high school graduation of his son.

In November last year, he was also allowed by the Fifth Division to undergo four therapy sessions at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan City after he complained of shoulder pain.