Island being readied for Estrada detention?

The geomancers may be right after all.

Deposed President Joseph Estrada may yet fulfill the 1998 prediction of a feng shui expert that he would live like an emperor.

Authorities are reportedly planning to detain Estrada on an island once plunder charges are filed against him.

A highly reliable source at Camp Crame likened the island to St. Helena where self-styled French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was detained and died after he was routed in the Battle of Waterloo.

The sources said authorities are now preparing an appropriate detention area for Estrada, who faces eight criminal charges, including three for the capital offense of plunder.

One of the places being considered for Estrada’s personal St. Helena is part of the Corregidor group of islands at the mouth of Manila Bay.

Another islet somewhere in Northern Luzon is also being eyed by authorities as a possible island of incarceration for the former president for the duration of his trial.

If the plan pushes through, the source said, it would be a fulfillment of sorts to the 1998 prediction of the late geomancer Paul Lau who said Estrada would win the presidential polls because his neck appeared similar to that of ancient Chinese emperors.

"If the plan does not change, the former president will be shipped to an island where he will be alone, except for special guards who will watch over him," the source disclosed.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is closely coordinating with various law enforcement agencies about the matter, the source added.

The source said it will be necessary to detain Estrada in his personal St. Helena to secure him from overzealous anti-Estrada groups which are reportedly growing impatient over his incarceration.

"The detention cell being prepared for him by the Ombudsman is a security risk," the source said, citing intelligence reports that Estrada loyalists are preparing drastic actions to free the ousted leader once he is arrested by authorities.

Even Malacañang has been accused of leaving open the option for Estrada to go into exile to avoid ci-vil unrest when charges are finally filed against him.

No less than President Arroyo denied that Estrada and his family would be allowed to flee the country in the face of the criminal charges.

Never, never – GMA

"Never, never," said Mrs. Arroyo in reaction to statement of former First Lady Luisa Ejercito who asked the government to clarify its stand on the possibility of Estrada going into exile.

Ejercito had earlier said the Arroyo administration had been inconsistent with its position on the issue.

"At first, they proposed that President Estrada, my family and I should leave the country, but later on they changed their position and even listed us on the hold departure list," Ejercito said.

"The Arroyo administration must make a clear stand on this issue to erase the confusion," Ejercito said, insisting that Estrada has no plan of fleeing the country.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., for his part, warned the former president against fleeing and urged Estrada to stay and face the music.
"He should stay, face the charges against him and defend himself," Belmonte said, stressing that "in this jurisdiction, flight means guilt."

Belmonte, who is running for mayor of Quezon City, said it is important for the nation that the former president go through trial for alleged corruption, plunder and other wrongdoing.

"As in South Korea, we probably need a catharsis to rediscover ourselves," he said.

Air Transportation Office (ATO) acting assistant secretary Anacleto Venturina assured that it is virtually impossible for Estrada to sneak out of the country without being detected.

Venturina said the ATO is "on top of the situation" and had already put in place measures to prevent Estrada’s exit even through the country’s southern backdoor.

Nonetheless, authorities have directed all military and police units to tighten the security in all public and private sea and air ports in Mindanao because of military intelligence reports contradicting Ejercito’s claim.

Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman for the Zamboanga City-based AFP Southern Command, said no less than Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling issued the directive upon orders of Malacañang. — With reports from Jose Rodel Clapano, Roel Pareño, Nestor Etolle, Rey Arquiza