Estrada wants 7 more days for leave

Former President Joseph Estrada asked the Sandigan—bayan yesterday to extend his three-day leave from detention by seven more days for his post-operative evaluation at the Asian Eye Institute in Makati City.

In a four-page motion for reconsideration, Estrada, through his lawyers, said the three-day leave (Dec. 20, 21 and 23) is not enough to complete the post-operative evaluation of his eye surgery.

This developed as the prosecution panel, led by deputy special prosecutor Robert Kallos, recommended that ophthalmologists from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center conduct the post-operative evaluation if necessary.

The Sandiganbayan had its last working day yesterday. The justices are expected to return to work next month.

Estrada insisted that his post-operative evaluation would take at least two weeks, thus, he is asking for leave on Dec. 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 and on Jan. 1 and 3.

In its orders dated Dec. 18 and 20, the anti-graft court’s third division allowed Estrada to go to the Asian Eye Institute on Dec. 20, 21 and 23 for post-operative evaluation after undergoing surgery to remove a cataract from his left eye last Sunday morning.

Doctors at the institute said the evaluation was meant to ensure Estrada’s complete recovery.