Erap allowed to spend birthday at villa

In the "spirit of liberality," the Sandiganbayan granted late yesterday afternoon the request of detained former President Joseph Estrada to celebrate his 67th birthday at his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal, just across his detention quarters at Camp Capinpin.

In a two-page resolution, Justices Minita Chico-Nazario, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Francisco Villaruz said the request was also granted due to fears of Estrada’s police custodians that the military camp may not accommodate the hundreds of well-wishers.

Chief Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio opposed the request in yesterday’s hearing.

"He can accept well-wishers at Camp Capinpin," he said.

But the anti-graft court told the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the court sanction shall only take effect from 8 a.m. of April 19, and that Estrada should be escorted back to Camp Capinpin by 8 p.m.

It also warned the PNP against allowing the former president and his guests to roam around the 15-hectare Mediterranean-type villa, as it restricted the movements of Estrada and his visitors to the chapel and pavilion.

The court also banned all media interviews, unless specifically sanctioned. It gave the PNP control and supervision over the flow of visitors and the sole discretion whether to allow the birthday celebrant to use his cellular phone.

Also yesterday, Nazario said she and her colleagues will inspect Estrada’s sprawling property on April 20.

"For us to resolve the judicial motions, we have to see the place," she said.

Estrada wanted the court to allow him to undergo physical treatment at his resthouse, if he could not be permanently transferred there. He had also asked the magistrates to allow him two-hour daily visits to his resthouse because of water problems in Camp Capinpin.