Erap flown to SJ for mom’s birthday

Detained former President Joseph Estrada was flown by helicopter from an Army camp in Tanay, Rizal yesterday to join his ailing mother for her 99th birthday celebration, court officials said.

The Sandiganbayan anti-graft court granted Estrada — who is detained while being tried on corruption charges — a 36-hour furlough to allow him to be with his mother, Mary Marcelo-Ejercito, on her birthday in North Greenhills, San Juan, court sheriff Ed Urieta said.

He will be returned today to his detention cell at Camp Capinpin in Tanay.

"Under the court order, he (Estrada) cannot go out of the house, even go to his home a few blocks away or give interviews," Urieta said.

Estrada’s mother hugged him and whispered in his ear during their emotional reunion, witnesses at the scene said. Outside the house, police special forces, a bomb squad and anti-riot officers took up positions amid concern his supporters might gather and stage anti-government protests.

At least 80 policemen were deployed to secure Estrada’s visit to her mother.

The former president woke up at 7 a.m. to prepare for his visit. Aboard a helicopter, Estrada left his detention cell in Tanay at around 10 a.m. and arrived on Ortigas Avenue 20 minutes later.

Clad in a beige jacket on top of a checkered brown polo and beige slacks, Estrada was driven straight to his mother’s residence at 82 Kennedy st. in North Greenhills, where Mrs. Ejercito, in a wheelchair, was waiting for him.

The former president’s wife, Sen. Luisa Ejercito-Estrada arrived 10 minutes later while his son, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, came at around noon.

There was no sign of Estrada’s eldest son, opposition senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada, as of 4 p.m.

Ejercito, son of the jailed leader by former actress Guia Gomez, said it was a mixture of feelings seeing his father there. He said he was happy that his father was allowed to visit his grandmother on her birthday, but sad that he had to go back to detention at 5 p.m. today.

"Hindi namin ito tinatanaw na utang na loob sa gobyerno," Ejercito said.

Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, head of the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO), said visitors of Mrs. Ejercito, even if they were close relatives, were frisked by Estrada’s close-in security numbering about 50.

Aside from PSPO personnel, Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District, also deployed some 30 policemen to provide perimeter security to Estrada.

Valenzuela told The STAR Estrada’s supporters were barred from the premises of Mrs. Ejercito’s residence as the family requested a quiet celebration of her birthday.

Not a single politician was seen with the Ejercitos as of 4 p.m., he added.

Estrada, who was ousted in January 2001 over alleged corruption and arrested months later, has filed a stream of requests to get out of detention, at least temporarily.

He was allowed to visit his mother weeks ago and to spend a three-day Lenten retreat at his sprawling villa near Camp Capinpin. He also entertained guests at his villa for his 67th birthday on April 19.

While imprisoned, Estrada has managed to use taped messages to convey his support for opposition candidates in the May 10 elections, including for fellow action movie star Fernando Poe Jr., who is running for president, and his son Jinggoy, a senatorial candidate.

Estrada has denied the corruption charges against him, and accused the country’s elite, the military leadership and the Roman Catholic Church of conspiring to oust him.

Estrada still commands a following, mostly among the country’s poor. — Non Alquitran