Jinggoy insists on US trip amid ‘fake’ invite
Former senator Jinggoy Estrada will push through with his trip to the United States despite the Filipino-Americans group’s denial that it invited him for a speaking engagement in Michigan. One of Estrada’s lawyers, Alexis
Abastillas-Suarez, stood by the authenticity of the invitation letter from US Pinoys for Good Governance, which Estrada supposedly received from USPGG Michigan chapter head William Dechavez.
“Basta (Still) we received an invite and we are honoring it. Whatever misunderstanding they have is already beyond us,” Suarez said in a text message to reporters.
Estrada is facing plunder and graft charges in connection to the pork barrel scam. He is out on bail.
The USPGG, chaired by philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis, has denied inviting Estrada to be a guest speaker in its event, contrary to Estrada’s claim in his motion to travel to US recently granted by the Sandiganbayan.
“USPGG-Michigan chapter head William Dechavez did not invite Jinggoy Estrada to speak in Michigan under USPGG nor is any program being planned by USPGG Michigan since Willie Dechavez is on vacation in the Philippines,” the group said in a statement posted on its website.
The statement was attributed to USPGG chairperson Lewis and president Rodel Rodis.
Suarez pointed out that Lewis and Rodis’ statement “does not deny the authenticity of the (invitation) letter or the signature on it, or even the position of the person who signed it.”
In a statement, the USPGG admitted that a certain Tony Antonio asked Dechavez to invite Estrada in the group’s event, but it was not clear whether Dechavez acceded to the request.
“Tony Antonio asked him to invite Jinggoy and Willie said it could only be done in his personal capacity, not as chair of USPGG Michigan, because he needs consultation with his group in Michigan,” the group explained.
In his motion filed before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on March 16, Estrada asked the court’s permission for a one-month stay in the United States for a vacation with his family, consultations with Stanford Hospital orthopedic surgeon Dr. Christopher Mow in connection with his “recurring” shoulder pains, and to attend the event of the USPGG.
Estrada said he was invited by USPGG to be a guest speaker in its annual general membership meeting to be held in Sterling Heights, Michigan on May 20.
Estrada attached in his motion an invitation letter signed by Dechavez. The letter also bears the official logo of USPGG.
“Our members would like to know the latest development in the Philippines particularly those pertaining to the issues over extrajudicial killings, Dengvaxia mess and federalism plan,” the letter read. “We know that you are in the thick of all these developments, and we are certain you can discuss the issues thoroughly and accurately.”
In a hearing last Monday, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted Estrada’s motion despite the opposition of state prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman. The court allowed Estrada to stay in the US from April 30 to May 30.
The anti-graft court has yet to release a formal resolution detailing the basis for granting Estrada’s request and the preconditions for his travel.
Estrada is facing plunder and 11 counts of graft before the Fifth Division in connection with the alleged misuse of millions of pesos of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel during his term as a senator.
He is accused of receiving P183 million worth of kickbacks from the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for allocating portions of his PDAF from 2004 to 2012 to the latter’s bogus foundations for the supposed implementation of his livelihood projects.
The Ombudsman, which filed the cases in June 2014, said Estrada’s projects turned out to be fictitious.
Estrada was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since June 2014. On Sept. 15, 2017 the Fifth Division allowed him to post bail on the ground of supposed lack of evidence from the prosecution showing that he is the “main plunderer” in the case.