Deposed President Joseph Estrada had a number of guests, including Rizal Gov. Ito Ynares, at his whole-day furlough at his rest house across his detention area in Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal yesterday.
The Sandiganbayan allowed Estrada to attend the Mass celebrated at his villa as thanksgiving for the victory of his son Jinggoy Estrada.
Rizal provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Leocadio Santiago said Estrada was in a "happy" mood during a get-together with his guests, including local politicians and his relatives.
There were no major hitches to Estrada’s visit to his vast and private rest house, Santiago added.
Police personnel form the Rizal provincial police and the Camp Crame-based Police Protection and Security Office (PSPO) were augmented by personnel from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division when Estrada was escorted at 8 a.m. to his rest house across the street from the bungalow where he is detained.
The Sandiganbayan had ordered that Estrada would be returned to Camp Capinpin at 8 p.m.
Estrada and Jinggoy are facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan. Jinggoy is out on bail.
Estrada’s guest list included Estrada’s other son, JV Ejercito, retired police general Roberto Calinisan, former Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales, businessman Tony Lopa, Cherry Sevilla and lawyers Romy Rojas, Ed Serrano and Bong Salud and Catholic priests Sonny Ramirez and Peter Lapid.
Other guests at Jinggoy’s thanksgiving mass were: Oscar Evangelista, Johnny Ng, William Gatchalian, Beaver Lopez, Francisco Tatad, a Mr. and Mrs. Ampil, Rudy Ledesma, Senator-elect Juan Ponce Enrile, Tony Evangelista, a Mr. Vigilar, Bobby Yan, Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Malaya publisher Amado Macasaet, actor Rudy Fernandez and outgoing Maguindanao Rep.Didagen Dilangalen.