Jinggoy wants 5-hour furlough on Nov. 1

MANILA, Philippines - Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is asking the Sandiganbayan to grant him at least five hours of freedom on All Saints’ Day.

In a five-page motion filed before the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division, he said he wishes to visit the graves of his grandparents and other relatives at the San Juan City Cemetery.

Estrada, who is facing plunder charges for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam, said he also wants to visit the grave of his best friend, action star Rudy Fernandez, at the Heritage Park in Taguig.

He is asking the Sandiganbayan to grant him permission to leave the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 1.

“Accused’s grandmother, fondly called Lola Mary; his grandfather, Lolo Emilio; father-in-law Reynaldo Vitug; uncles George and Paulino, and sister Jessica are all interred at the San Juan Cemetery,” he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman is expected to be directed to comment on the motion, considering Estrada is being held without bail.

Estrada – allegedly in connivance with his former chief of staff Pauline Labayen, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and other individuals – is accused of pocketing more than P183 million in kickbacks or commissions from his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations as a lawmaker from 2007 to 2009.

Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ramon Revilla Jr. are facing similar charges before the Sandiganbayan’s Third and First Divisions.