Estrada, with sore eyes, excused from trial

Jailed former President Joseph Estrada was allowed to miss yesterday’s hearing of the plunder charge against him because of acute eye inflammation.

Associate Justice Anacleto Badoy Jr., chairman of the Sandiganbayan’s third division which is handling the case, said the ousted president could be excused due to health reasons.

Dr. Lilia Lorenzana, an eye doctor at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where the ousted leader is detained, confirmed that he was afflicted with sore eyes. "He is in a lot of pain, discomfort (with) an inflammation of both eyes."

She said Estrada had been complaining of his illness since Tuesday, but still proceeded to the court where he is being tried for the capital offense of plunder arising from allegations that he illegally amassed some P4 billion during his 30 months in office.

Badoy excused Estrada and the trial proceeded without him.

Press photographers said when their flashes went off, the former president seemed to be suffering pain in his eyes and asked them to leave.

Estrada earlier sought the permission of the court to be allowed to travel to the United States to seek medical attention for a growing pain in his knees and deteriorating vision.

Lorenzana did not say if the new ailment was in connection to his travel request.

However, Ombudsman Aniano Desierto vowed to stand in his way, saying the former leader’s ailment is "not life-threatening" and could be treated locally.

Estrada also appealed to the court to forgo with his attendance at the hearings. "I want to appeal to Justice Badoy not to compel me to attend every hearing because I was already arraigned (and I have) signed my waiver of appearance. Any reference to me by any witness will be accepted so what I’m worried about is the government spending P1.3 million everytime I come here because of the heavy security."

He said given the present economic difficulties confronting the country, Badoy could still make good news by exempting him from attending the hearings and saving money for the government.

"I am having difficulties walking, sitting. That is why I am wondering why the justices are requiring me to attend (the hearings) when I don’t do anything here," Estrada said.

He expressed belief that the justices wanted him in the courtroom just to gain publicity mileage "because if I am not around, the media will not be here."

While he acknowledged that his ailments could be treated locally, he said his eye doctor from Boston could not come here because of a travel advisory issued by the US Embassy in Manila warning Americans from coming to the Philippines.

Estrada was toppled in a popular uprising in January following a failed impeachment trial triggered by a corruption scandal.