Sandiganbayan has allowed former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to travel abroad to accompany his mother, former Senator and former First Lady Loi Ejercito, in a medical check-up.
In a resolution signed on Monday by Acting Chairperson Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Associate Justices Bayani Jacinto and Georgina Hidalgo, Sandiganbayan granted Estrada’s trip to Singapore from October 1 to 8.
According to Estrada’s camp, Ejercito will be checked by a certain Dr. Prem Pillay of the Neuro, Spine, and Pain Center in Mount Elizabeth Hospital, located in Singapore.
Prior to the approval, Estrada’s request to travel was initially blocked by the prosecution on grounds that he might flee the country.
He is are currently facing multiple charges, along with other former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla, before the anti-graft court based on alleged involvement with the pork barrel scam.
In particular, he is accused of misusing public funds when he allocated around P183 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to fake non-government organizations owned by supposed pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles.
However, Sandiganbayan reasoned that Estrada can travel abroad, based on the fact that his previous request for trips have been granted. Plus, they reasoned out that the travel bond posted by the former senator, which amounts to P2.6 million, would guarantee his return.
Estrada is required to notify authorities of his return within five days after his trip, or until October 13. He was held at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame before posting a bail of P1.3 million in September 2017. /je