Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio urged the Sandiganbayan Special Division to deny outright the ousted leader’s offer, branding it as a "scenario" straight out of a "sitcom script."
In an eight-page motion, prosecutors in the plunder case against the 66-year-old former actor said his proposal "serves no other purpose than to embarrass the government and the courts."
Through his lawyers Noel Malaya and Manuel Pamaran, Estrada has manifested before the anti-graft court his willingness to let the government lease his property — located less than a hundred meters from the gates of Camp Capinpin where he is detained — so the government would spend less in keeping and securing him at the military hospital.
Malaya has said his client is willing to have his resthouse placed under the Sandiganbayan’s supervision if he would be moved there from his place of detention at Camp Capinpin.
Doing so, Estrada said, is already an assurance that he will not evade prosecution. And even if he does, the government can easily confiscate his property, he pointed out.
"The property may be forfeited in favor of the government should I escape confinement," the deposed leader said.
But prosecutors are not biting the offer.
"The offer for a P1 a year to the government in exchange for him being placed under house arrest is simply illogical and immoral given the facts and circumstances," Villa Ignacio said.
He noted even members of the media regarded Estrada’s offer with "amusement," citing how it has been cartooned in newspapers.
Villa Ignacio also pointed out Estrada’s modified request for custodial arrangement is being crafted for him to get house arrest.
"The honorable court has long settled and written finis to this issue on the merit, legality and propriety of Estrada being granted house arrest," Villa Ignacio said. He insisted that Estrada be brought back to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where he was transferred in May 2001 from a police training camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna due to persistent illnesses.
The prosecutor chiefly tasked to pin down Estrada on large-scale corruption charges noted the former leader’s request carried "no new issue or compelling reason" to be granted the privilege of house arrest.
Villa Ignacio said the proposal was a "virtual house arrest," which is not allowed detainees under the law.