Sandigan fails to act on Erap request for medical leave

Former President Joseph Estrada is still waiting for the Sandiganbayan to grant his request for a medical check-up for "bothersome" back pains after it deferred his request for a medical pass during the Holy Week.

The anti-graft court is planning to come out with a resolution this week.

If the anti-graft court grants his request, it could mean spending his 70th birthday in hospital.

Estrada had asked the anti-graft court for a medical checkup at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa. His personal physician, Dr. Lorenzo Hocson had earlier recommended that he be treated at the San Juan Medical Center, where Hocson is medical director.

The former president’s son, San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, said he is still not aware of the plans of his father on his birthday on April 17.

"No plans yet," Ejercito told The STAR.

Likewise, Estrada’s legal counsels Rene Saguisag and J. Alberto Flaminiano said that they are not yet drawing up a request for a day pass from the Sandiganbayan Special Division so that Estrada could be with his family on that day.

"We have not discussed that yet. It’s too early," Saguisag said in a phone interview.

He said that since it was still a holiday, they had not yet talked to Estrada about it.

Saguisag said it would either be that the family members visit him in Tanay or Estrada would be asking for a pass to visit his family in Greenhills, San Juan.

Saguisag also pointed out that the Sandiganbayan has yet to decide on the medical pass of Estrada and that it was still too early to discuss birthday plans with the anti-graft court.

In another development, Ejercito said they will be forced to look for an alternative venue if the Sandiganbayan still denies their request to have his wedding at the detention place of his father in Tanay, Rizal.

Ejercito said "he cannot do anything about it" if the Sandiganbayan denies his request, but he still hoped the court would give allowance for this "once in a lifetime event."

Ejercito said the wedding has been moved to June 9, 2007. – Sandy Araneta