SANDIGANBAYAN DEFERS ESTRADA'S TRIP TO HONG KONG
MANILA, December 23, 2004 (STAR) 12/23 12:50:52 PM (AFP) - A local court deferred on Thursday detained ex-president Joseph Estrada's scheduled Hong Kong trip for knee surgery.Estrada, who is suffering from arthritis, was to have left Thursday but the anti-graft court said he could only leave on December 26 and should be back by January 15. It gave no reason for its decision. Government prosecutors have filed motions seeking to block Estrada from leaving the country, alleging that he might try to flee his trial for massive corruption.
The 67-year-old former leader faces life in jail or even the death penalty if convicted on charges of plundering the country of 80 million US dollars during his 30 months in office. A military-backed popular revolt ended his term in January 2001 and replaced him with then-vice-president Gloria Arroyo, after which he was indicted and detained.
Estrada medical trip delayed until December 26: reports 2/23 10:51:59 AM
The trip of former president Joseph Estrada to Hong Kong fro a medical operation has been pushed back to December 26.
According to media reports, the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court issued a resolution Thursday setting the new departure date. Estrada was supposed to fly today. The detained ex-president is scheduled to undergo a knee operation with his personal physician, Doctor Christopher Mow, at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital on December 27. However, he has already paid the required one-million peso ravel bond before the special division this morning. This was a condition imposed by the court along with a letter of undertaking that he promises to return to the country.
Estrada's defense panel had requested the court twice to delay the ousted leader's departure due to conflicting schedule with Mow and a later request to attend the burial of his friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Estrada will be accompanied to Hong Kong by his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito, son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and four police escorts appointed by the Sandiganbayan.
Earlier, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson had called on the government to cancel Estrada's trip as this could lead to the former president's escape abroad as well as signal the government's softening stance towards the deposed leader. Singson's revelations of Estrada's alleged illegal gambling kickbacks lead to the latter's ouster in 2001.
ERAP SCHEDULED TO LEAVE FOR HONG KONG TODAY (STAR) Reported earlier today Dec 23/04
By Marichu Villanueva - Deposed President Joseph Estrada is leaving for Hong Kong today to undergo replacement surgery on both knees unless the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order. Estrada will be accompanied to Hong Kong by his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito, son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, and four police escorts appointed by the Sandiganbayan. Ferdie Ramos, one of Estrada’s media handlers, said the former president and his party will take Philippine Airlines Flight PR306, which leaves the Centennial Terminal in Parañaque City at 2:55 p.m. today.
Lawyer Jay Flaminiano, son of lead counsel Jose Flaminiano, will pay the required P1-million travel bond before the special division this morning — a condition imposed by the court along with a letter of undertaking that he promises to return to the country. But Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio said they will oppose Estrada’s departure since the anti-graft court has not yet ruled on his proposed stay in the former British colony from Dec. 23 to Jan. 17. "We will oppose that. He cannot leave until the Sandiganbayan has told him so," Villa Ignacio said.
A temporary restraining order was actually sought by Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo before the 15-member SC, headed by Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., but the justices were already on Christmas break. Marcelo filed his urgent issuance of a TRO right after the Sandiganbayan granted Estrada’s amended medical furlough.Estrada told The STAR yesterday he could not afford to further delay his scheduled surgery because of recurring pains of his arthritic knees worsened by his multiple slipped discs. The 67-year-old former president said he quietly suffered the excruciating pain while he delivered his eulogy to his bosom friend, Fernando Poe Jr., at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on Tuesday night. During the necrological rites, he was visibly having difficulty going up and down the stairs of the altar.
Estrada is scheduled for operation on Dec. 27 at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital where his personal physician, Dr. Christopher Mow, would do the reconstructive surgery to replace his bum knees with titanium plates. The Sandiganbayan had given him a 24-hour pass to join the final night of Poe’s wake and visit his 99-year-old mother, Mrs. Mary Marcelo-Ejercito. Right after the necrological rites were concluded, Estrada was immediately motored back to his resthouse detention in Tanay, Rizal where he is now waiting for the final decision from the High Court if he would be allowed to fly to Hong Kong or not.
Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye released to the media yesterday photocopies of the letter Estrada sent to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to belie allegations of supposed "political deals" that the Palace had entered into with him. "If there has been a deal, the former president would not have attacked Mrs. Arroyo the way he did during the necrological rites for FPJ," Bunye said, referring to accusations raised by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson, who claimed that the Sandiganbayan granted the medical permit and other "special privileges" to Estrada at the behest of the Palace. "There is no political deal. It was an independent Sandiganbayan decision," Bunye insisted.
In his letter to the Hong Kong government, Estrada also formally applied for entry to Hong Kong and promised to observe five conditions of his "temporary stay," including the pledge to keep a low profile and not to carry firearms.
"I undertake that I shall leave Hong Kong and return to my home country, the Philippines, as soon as the medical treatment is completed or upon expiry of the stay as approved by the Director of Immigration," Estrada stated. "I would not seek political asylum, refugee status or pursue other actions aimed at securing long-term stay in Hong Kong on any grounds," he added.
Meanwhile, in response to concerns raised by Estrada that the Arroyo administration might prevent him from coming back to the Philippines, Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. has issued a letter of undertaking confirming Estrada’s "returnability" to the country. "We will accept the entry of Mr. Joseph Ejercito Estrada once the Hong Kong Immigration has terminated his stay," the BI chief added. — With Delon Porcalla
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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