PNP ready to secure Erap for checkup, El Shaddai rites

The Philippine National Police has assured the security of ousted President Joseph Estrada when he undergoes a regular medical checkup at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan and attends an El Shaddai prayer meeting at Rizal Park in Manila on Aug. 20 to celebrate the birthday of Bro. Mike Velarde, spiritual leader of the Catholic charismatic group.

"The PNP, at this time, has sufficient uniformed personnel that could (be) deployed for security purposes in the places where the former president may be allowed to visit by the Honorable Court," Chief Superintendent Edgardo Doromal, commander of the PNP’s Police Security and Protection Office told the justices of the special division hearing the plunder case against Estrada.

Doromal assured Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Francisco Villaruz and Diosdado Peralta Estrada that his police custodians will abide by the conditions set forth by the Sandiganbayan.

In its three-page comment to the court, the PNP said Estrada will be allowed to use the limited time given to him for "purely medical and spiritual purposes."

The special division has set the condition that Estrada refrain from giving any political statements to the media, and the PNP has vowed to implement it.

The anti-graft court sought the PNP’s comment after government opposed Estrada’s request to attend the prayer meeting of El Shaddai.

Estrada, through retired Manila fiscal Jose Flaminiano, one of his lawyers, had asked the special division to allow him to leave his detention quarters at his sprawling resthouse in Tanay, Rizal at 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 for the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Manila to attend the El Shaddai prayer meeting.

"After hearing the Mass, Estrada would immediately return to his Tanay resthouse," he said.

Estrada was invited by Velarde to attend his birthday celebration on Aug. 20, he added. — Delon Porcalla