Estrada's bid to attend ma's birthday junked with finality

THE Sandiganbayan Fifth Division junked with finality on Friday Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada's request to attend the 85th birthday celebration of his mother, former senator Luisa "Loi" Ejercito.

In a resolution, the court junked the urgent motion for reconsideration filed by Estrada, saying the senator being a detention prisoner is subject to restriction in locomotion or actual physical movement.

"Only emergency or compelling temporary leaves from imprisonment are allowed to all prisoners at the discretion of the authorities or upon court orders," the resolution said.

Earlier, the anti-graft court said that it will be a "mockery of the justice system" if Estrada will be allowed to attend the birthday celebration of his mother.

"While this court does not remain insensitive to the significance entailed in celebrating family values especially now that Senator Loi P. Ejercito Estrada is celebrating her 85th birthday, such fact cannot simply override, but should rather restrain, the consequences attached to a detention prisoner," the resolution added.

In his petition, Estrada asked for a five-hour leave from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on June 5 so he could attend his mother's thanksgiving celebration at Blue Leaf Filipinas, Aseana City, in Parañaque City.

"The mother of accused Senator Jinggoy Estrada informed the undersigned that having reached the age of 85 years old and with her family whole and together she would like to give thanks to her Maker and to those who have been part of her life by having a dinner-celebration on (June 5, 2015) together with family and friends," the petition read.

Last February, the court junked Estrada's three-hour birthday furlough but he was allowed to attend his son's graduation in March.

Estrada is detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center in Camp Crame, Quezon City on charges of plunder and graft in connection with the pork barrel anomaly. (Sunnex)