Estrada allowed to visit 'miracle spring'

Ousted president Joseph Estrada is expected to temporarily leave his hospital detention room today after the anti-graft court trying him for corruption charges yesterday allowed his appeal to visit a mythical spring with supposed healing powers.

In a resolution issued by the Sandiganbayan special division, Estrada was given five hours to visit the spring in Manila's northeastern suburb of Caloocan City, less than 10 kilometres from the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre (VMMC) where he has been detained since late April 2001.

"Accused Estrada is hereby allowed to leave the VMMC at 10 am of December 19 provided that he returns to his place of detention not later than 3pm," the court said.

The grant of temporary leave from detention would be the second given to Estrada for the purpose of visiting the spring.

A similar order was given by the Sandiganbayan special division late last week in deference to Estrada's request, but the former president cancelled the visit, which would have taken place on Monday due to an anticipated appearance at a Senate inquiry, which also did not push through.

Estrada's lawyers sought the Sandiganbayan's permission to allow their client to bathe in the spring and undergo 'spiritual healing' for his arthritic knees.

The anti-graft court earlier turned down several appeals by the former president to leave the country for the United States for treatment of his ailment that he claims can be cured by undergoing knee replacement surgery.