Sandigan won’t recall Jinggoy travel pass

The Fifth Division of the Sandiganbayan yesterday said the onemonth travel authority it recently granted to former senator Jinggoy Estrada stands, amid a statement from the Filipino-American group US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) disputing the veracity of one of the reasons he cited in his motion to travel.

At the continuation of the trial of Estrada’s plunder case yesterday morning, Fifth Division chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos said

its ruling allowing the former senator to go to the US from April 30 to May 30 remains, unless state prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman file another objection or manifestation based on recent events.

“We’ll wait if they want to file anything. If the prosecution doesn’t file anything, we cannot act on mere newspaper accounts,” Lagos said.

Lagos was apparently referring to newspaper reports on USPGG’s denial of Estrada’s claim that the group’s Michigan chapter invited him to be a guest speaker for its event on May 20.

Estrada is facing a plunder case before the Fifth Division in connection with his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

In a hearing last Monday, the Fifth Division granted Estrada’s travel request despite the objection of the prosecution. The court, however, has yet to release a formal resolution detailing the basis for granting Estrada’s motion and the preconditions for his travel.

In a phone interview with The STAR yesterday, Estrada stood by the authenticity of the invitation letter he supposedly received from USPGG-Michigan chapter head William Dechavez.

“I did not fool the court. I did not misrepresent anybody. The invitation letter was not forged. It is authentic as can be attested by Dechavez himself,” Estrada said.

Estrada recounted that the invitation letter, signed by Dechavez and bearing the official logo of USPGG, was personally handed to him by USPGG public relations officer Tony Antonio about two months ago.

Estrada attached the letter in his motion to travel filed at the Fifth Division last March 16.

But aside from attending the USPGG event, Estrada, in his motion, said he also intends to go on a vacation with his family and undergo a medical checkup in connection with his “recurring” shoulder pains.

“USPGG’s Willie 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 last week.

The statement was attributed to USPGG chair Loida Nicolas-Lewis and president Rodel Rodis.

The USPGG, however, admitted in its statement that Antonio asked Dechavez to invite Estrada to 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.

Estrada said he had already talked to Dechavez over the phone to clarify the matter and the latter supposedly promised that “he would stand by his invitation.”

“In fact, (Dechavez) told me that it is only now that Lewis is interfering with the affairs of their chapter. Had I known that Lewis is the national chairperson of USPGG I wouldn’t have accepted the invitation,” Estrada said.

“She made the statement just because she knows that I am supportive of President (Duterte). If it were officials of the opposition, will she raise a howl? I don’t think so,” he added.

Lewis is a vocal critic of Duterte and even joined calls for his resignation. Duterte had earlier accused Lewis of being behind the supposed destabilization plots against him but she has denied this.