Court likely to let Arroyo travel abroad

A Pasay court, which hears the electoral sabotage case against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is keen on allowing her to travel abroad.

Judge Jesus Mupas of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 “will most probably grant” Arroyo’s motion to travel to three Asian cities from Dec. 26 to Jan. 12, 2018, court  staffer Hermito dela Cruz III said on Wednesday.

The Pasay court is set to resolve today Arroyo’s “very urgent supplemental motion for leave to travel abroad.” Prosecutors from the Department of Justice had no objections to her motion.

According to her motion, the former president will go to Japan and Hong Kong for “family-oriented” purposes. She will then proceed to Myanmar for an “official business.”

The staffer explained that Arroyo was not a flight risk anymore as her electoral sabotage case was the “sole criminal charge left against her.”

In November 2016, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the graft case against Arroyo over the botched national broadband project deal with Chinese firm, ZTE Corp.

In July 2016, the Supreme Court voting, 11-4, acquitted Arroyo of plunder charges in the Sandiganbayan involving the misuse of P366-million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.—DEXTER CABALZA