Estrada lawyers agree to transfer Erap to Tanay

Suddenly backpedaling on the issue of moving deposed President Joseph Estrada to another detention facility, Estrada’s lawyers said a relocation would be welcome, especially if he will be moved to Tanay, Rizal.

"The accused is not objecting because the place is very ideal," court appointed defense lawyer Jose Flaminiano said. "There is no pollution there and the facilities, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP), are complete."

Flaminiano’s statement was seconded by lawyer Manuel Pamaran, who is also part of Estrada’s legal defense team.

The PNP has sought the Sandiganbayan’s permission to move Estrada to Camp Capinpin, headquarters of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, ahead of United States President George W. Bush’s state visit.

Bush is scheduled to make an eight-hour state visit to Manila on Saturday.

Estrada is now detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City while standing trial for corruption.

In a post-hearing interview, Pamaran told reporters Estrada "can go outside for sunning. He will have the chance to jog around and walk anytime. We have no reason to question the PNP’s request. Anyway, we are submitting it to the sound discretion of the court."

Senior state prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio suspects there could be some sort of connivance between the PNP and Estrada but he refused to state whether the prosecution agrees with or opposes the PNP’s request.

"If security is the reason (for the transfer request), then the detention cell in Sto. Domingo is the most secure place. besides, we don’t know the time frame, how temporary it could be." Fort Sto. Domingo is a PNP training facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna where Estrada was once detained.

Estrada could be a "terrorist" target, PNP security chief Superintendent Prospero Noble said. "While the efforts of the police and the armed forces are focused on the arrival of President Bush, terrorists could turn to other targets of opportunity."

Noble added that "we will save money" by transferring Estrada. "Every time there are planned marches, demonstrations, we always beef up the security of the former president at the (VMMC), so it entails a lot of expenses," he said.

PNP legal director Chief Superintendent Doroteo Reyes said the Tanay police camp would provide Estrada with cost-efficient security, adding he could also enjoy the "vibrant and tranquil surroundings" of Camp Capinpin.

The PNP shoulders all the expenses for the personnel deployed to secure Estrada, including the cost of food and allowances.

The cost of additional meal allowances for PNP personnel securing Estrada was pegged by the PNP at P170,000 monthly. An additional P6,000 is spent for each trip between VMMC and the Sandiganbayan whenever Estrada attends trial and another P6,000 for additional PNP personnel deployed to secure Estrada during mass actions and protests.

Reyes said the PNP "incurs a minimum of P500,000 daily in expenses just to secure Estrada.

"For a security officer, it is really a nightmare securing the former president at the (VMMC) because we cannot screen every person who goes there to visit (other patients)," Noble said.

If Estrada is brought to Camp Capinpin, Noble said, the PNP will not need to redeploy its forces. — with Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde, AFP