Erap wants furlough again

Ousted President Joseph Estrada asked the Sandiganbayan yesterday to allow him to attend a thanksgiving Mass for his son, Senator-elect Jinggoy Estrada on Sunday at his rest house in Tanay, Rizal, just across his place of detention at Camp Capinpin.

The 67-year-old Estrada said he also wanted to greet his wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, on her birthday without specifying any date.

The request was filed before the anti-graft court’s special division by Estrada’s court-appointed lawyers, retired Sandiganbayan presiding justice Manuel Pamaran, retired Manila fiscal Jose Flaminiano, and Noel Malaya.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio hinted that the government would oppose Estrada’s motion unless "it is a matter of life and death."

The special division allowed Estrada to vote at his detention quarters on May 10, and permitted him to visit his 98-year-old mother in San Juan and celebrate his birthday at his rest house on April 19.

However, the special division had denied his request to attend the eighth birthday party of his son Jacob by former starlet Laarni Enriquez. — Delon Porcalla