Explain Jinggoy ‘drinking party,’ cops, doctors told

The Sandiganbayan ordered yesterday Philipine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and the custodian of jailed former President Joseph Estrada and his son Jinggoy to explain why they allegedly allowed the young Estrada to hold a "drinking party" at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) last month.

Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, chairperson of the Sandiganbayan special division, summoned Chief Superintendent Rosalio Magsino, custodian of the Estradas and director of the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO) in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

"You are hereby directed to appear on July 3, at 8:30 in the morning before the special division for the hearing of the letter of Mr. Leoncio de Mesa dated June 17," Nazario’s order said.

The order for Mendoza and Magsino to appear in court stemmed from a letter sent to Nazario last June 28 by a certain Leoncio de Mesa of UP Diliman, Quezon City, who informed the court that Jinggoy was in a drinking party last June 11 during a press conference of his friend actor Rudy Fernandez at the Floating Island Restaurant of the Makati Medical Center.

Last Monday, Nazario ordered Jinggoy’s personal cardiologist, Dr. Roberto Anastacio, who is based at the Makati Medical Center, to also appear in court today and explain Estrada’s alleged "drinking party."

De Mesa claimed Jinggoy Estrada was Fernandez’s special guest at a press conference held at the Makati Medical Center. He reported that the Floating Island Restaurant inside the hospital was closed to the public until 7 a.m. the following morning. Even hospital employees were barred from entering the restaurant, he said.

In his letter, De Mesa suggested that Anastacio should be sanctioned by the Philippine Medical Society for exaggerating Jinggoy’s condition when he pleaded for his patient’s confinement at the Makati Medical Center.

"Henceforth, the Sandiganbayan and the government authorities should be more strict in dealing with the Estradas. The people are watching the developments in the case and will not be fooled by the antics of the accused and their counsels and friends," De Mesa said.– Jose Rodel Clepano