Gov't lawyers buck Jinggoy's 5-hour pass on All Saints' Day

MANILA, Philippines - Government prosecutors have opposed the request of detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for a five-hour pass to leave the Philippine National Police Custodial Center to visit and pay respect to his departed relatives on All Saints Day.

 

In its opposition filed before the Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Roland Jurado, the Office of the Special Prosecutor argued that granting Estrada's request will be perceived by the public as special treatment to the lawmaker.

 

"Granting his request would unduly create an impression on the public that... Estrada, being a high ranking official, is favored detainee over and above other similarly situated detainees.

 

"This would be tantamount to giving a pass to all detention prisoners to visit their departed family members and friends at their place of repose on All Saints' Day and will invariably open the floodgates for all other detainees in arguing that they too should be afforded the same privilege accorded... Estrada," the prosecution said.

 

The government legal counsels also maintained that Estrada has failed to provide proof before the tribunal that the names he gave the Anti-graft court are buried at the San Juan City Cemetery and the Heritage Park in Taguig City.

 

"Estrada is facing a non-bailable offense and is presently detained... Accordingly being a detainee... Estrada's movement should be restricted, instead of being expanded," the prosecutors said.

 

Estrada is now facing graft and plunder charges in connection with the P10-billion pork barrel scam.