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Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Velarde urges Sandiganbayan: Let Erap go abroad
By Marie Neri
EL SHADDAI leader Mike Velarde said Monday he is trying to convince the Sandiganbayan to allow deposed president Joseph Estrada undergo an operation and treatment in the US for various ailments.
"I have made private initiatives to get out former president Estrada from detention and bring him to United States for treatment. I would ask the
Sandiganbayan to consider temporary liberty for him," Velarde told reporters in a press briefing held at the El Shaddai office in Makati City.
Estrada is suffering from a back ailment aside from arthritis in the knees.
Velarde said allowing Estrada to leave the country could be considered as another form of healing and reconciliation between the Arroyo administration and the opposition, particularly those supporting the ousted president.
"If their minds are open and if they think of reconciliation and healing they might consider our request," Velarde said.
Velarde pointed out that the doctors who attended to Estrada have already recommended that the former president undergo treatment immediately.
"I talked with the doctors attending to him the other day and they said that his case should be done outside," said Velarde, adding that the former President also has the prerogative to choose as to who should operate on him.
Although he admitted he is not sure if his intervention would not cause any legal obstacle, Velarde said he consulted his lawyers on the matter and asked them to look into it.
"We have not officially filed the request but I asked my lawyers if that would not be an intervention if we will file the petition," he added.
He said Estrada will be present in a prayer-rally of the El Shaddai movement on Nov. 8 and 9 at the Qurino Grandstand for the peaceful resolution of the
stand-off between Congress and the Supreme Court over the impeachment of Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
According to Velarde, Estrada told him he is now cooperating with the Arroyo administration and would be willing to help the President if he would be
allowed to be treated abroad.
"I was told by him in our meeting the other day that he is willing to support the government and help it stabilize," Velarde said.
Velarde also said he Estrada is willing to be side by side with President Arroyo in the prayer-rally on Saturday if the Sandiganbayan will allow him to join the activity, which is also sponsored by various religious and business sector.
"We will be making arrangements with the Presidential guards (if it is possible that they appear side by side) but he said he is willing to attend," the El
Shaddai leader said.
For his part, Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, newly-elected president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said he does not
object to a petition to allow Estrada to seek treatment abroad as long as it is done through legal processes.
"It's okay as long as proper legal procedures would be followed. The Church welcomes both sinners and saints," Capalla said in a telephone interview.
Fr. Romeo Intengan of the Society of Jesus, for his part, said he also welcomes and supports a request to let Estrada undergo treatment in the US if it will lead to peace, reconciliation and healing of the country.
(November 4, 2003 issue)
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