Estrada must be jailed, says whistle-blower

Manila: Former president Joseph Estrada should be jailed at the National Penitentiary and should not be given a special treatment after he was given a life sentence for plunder, said a whistle-blower and Estrada's nemesis.

"Justice would not be complete if he is not brought to the National Penitentiary. He should not have been allowed to remain under house arrest in his big resort in suburban Rizal," said former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.

Forced

In October 2001, Singson revealed that Estrada had forced him to monitor the monthly collection of protection money from illegal gambling bosses nationwide.

Singson also alleged that Estrada's son, now Senator Jinggoy Estrada, collected money from the gambling bosses in northern suburban Bulacan. The collection from 1998 to 2000, amounted to 542 million pesos (Dh43 million).

Singson's revelation resulted in Estrada's impeachment trial at the Senate, military-backed street protests that ousted Estrada and trial for plunder at the anti-graft court.

Willing

Estrada's lawyer, Rene Saguisag, said the convicted president was "willing to go to the National Penitentiary at this very moment".

"He was prepared to be brought to the National Penitentiary, where common criminals are jailed, right after the Sandiganbayan read the guilty verdict," said Saguisag.

The presiding justice of the anti-graft court said Estrada was sent back to his resort in Rizal as a courtesy to a former president.