But more likely than not, the two estranged leaders will not meet at all. As of press time yesterday, the President was scheduled to join Cardinal Vidal in a breakfast reception at the latter’s Wack Wack residence in Mandaluyong City. Estrada, on the other hand, was invited by Vidal to join him for a luncheon at the Bishop’s residence.
As of yesterday, the Sandiganbayan had yet to act on the petition filed by Estrada’s lawyers to grant their client a court leave to enable him to attend the Cardinal’s birthday reception.
Cardinal Vidal had served as the "bridge" between Mrs. Arroyo and Estrada after the two leaders had a bitter parting of ways during EDSA II in January 2001.
When he was still President, Estrada named Cardinal Vidal as one of his spiritual advisers.
In a telephone interview with The STAR yesterday, Estrada expressed hopes that the Sandiganbayan would grant his petition for a court leave.
Estrada was back at his rest house in Tanay last Monday after the medical furlough granted by the Sandiganbayan had lapsed.
Estrada underwent occuplasty surgery to correct his drooping eyelids. He was discharged from the hospital although the stitches had not yet been removed. Estrada’s petition to extend his medical furlough for another two days was rejected by the Sandiganbayan. — Marichu Villanueva