Palace denies Arroyo-Estrada patch-up effort

The presidential palace yesterday denied reports of fresh efforts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to reconcile with deposed leader Joseph Estrada.

"I heard the rumours but she did not visit Estrada," spokesman Roberto Tiglao said as he reacted to questions by reporters on reports that the former president turned down a social call from Arroyo when she arrived at the Veterans Memorial Medical Centre (VMMC) on Saturday.

Arroyo's reported attempt to visit Estrada comes after a reported fallout when the jailed ex-president issued a letter accusing the President of conspiring with the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court to persecute him.

The Sandiganbayan is handling four corruption-related cases against Estrada. Two weeks ago, he fired all 10 of his lawyers as accused the anti-graft court of partiality.

He also questioned the credibility of the Supreme Court which approved the formation of a special branch in the Sandiganbayan to handle cases against him.

Tiglao, nevertheless admitted that Arroyo entered the premises of the VMMC, but only "to use the helipad," inside the government facility. "VMMC's helipad is very secure. The President has used it in the past," Tiglao said, adding Arroyo flew to Batangas province that morning for an engagement.

"She went straight from the car to the helicopter. She did not go into the buildings of the VMMC."

Reports by local newspapers, on the contrary, said Estrada "politely" declined to receive Arroyo who went on an "unannounced" visit to the VMMC.

"I do not know why she came to see my husband at his detention room here at the hospital. All I know is that we were just asked by her security officers and some military and police elements whether my husband was ready to see President Arroyo," Estrada's wife, Sen. Luisa "Loi" Estrada, reportedly said.

Arroyo was accompanied by Justice Secretary Hernani Perez, Sen. Estrada said, quoting statements by police guarding the ex-president.

Sen. Estrada, a doctor by profession, recounted that the night before, she gave her husband heavy doses of steroids for his deteriorating knee ailment. She awakened her husband to relay the message concerning Arroyo's arrival.

"Please tell them politely that I am not to ready to receive Mrs. Arroyo," was the reply of her husband, Sen. Estrada narrated.

Military and police guards at the VMMC said they had been officially alerted the night before of Arroyo's visit.

Had Estrada agreed to meet Arroyo, it would have been their third meeting since her government threw him and their son Jinggoy in jail in April to face charges of economic plunder, perjury and illegal use of an alias.

"One was at the VMMC, and the other at the Sta. Rosa detention cell after EDSA III, both arranged by Cardinal Rufino Vidal," she said as she referred to the specially-built facility inside a police camp where Estrada was detained following a failed uprising by his supporters in May last year.

"Up to this day, we regret my husband's acceding to the intercession of Cardinal Vidal of Cebu to meet with Arroyo on those two occasions," she noted. Arroyo is reportedly trying to negotiate a possible concession with Estrada following the latter's recent attempts to erode the credibility of the country's justice system.

A breakdown in the judiciary's integrity will have serious repercussions on the political stability of the Arroyo government. The former president has a pending appeal before the Sandiganbayan for a six-month visit to the US where he plans to have his arthritic knees treated at Stanford.

Critics, however, said Estrada may use the trip as an excuse to seek political asylum in another country.

The palace has officially said on several occasions that it is leaving the issue regarding Estrada's request to the Sand-iganbayan although it is apparent that Estrada's absence from the country will make the government more stable.