Mikey Arroyo’s wife, kids allowed to travel ‘to bond’

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—State prosecutors in the tax evasion cases filed against Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela last week did not contest the latter’s petition to travel to Singapore with her children at the end of October.

The prosecutors, headed by senior assistant state prosecutor Lagrimas Agaran, said in their comment on Angela Arroyo’s Sept. 19 motion for leave to travel filed in Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 100 that they would not object to the request provided that Angela Arroyo post a bond of P420,000 for the seven counts of tax evasion and abide by the conditions set by the court.

The prosecutors further said that the family’s planned trip from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 should be limited to Singapore, without extensions or changes of destination.

They also said that Arroyo should be required to submit proof of her travel within 72 hours from her return to the country. Failure to submit, according to the state prosecutors, would result in the forfeiture of the bond.

In her motion seeking leave to travel to Singapore, Arroyo said her children’s break from school would present for the family an “invaluable opportunity to bond privately.”

Lawyer Art Ryan Seachon argued that Arroyo had been previously given leave to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, in July. He also said she was not a flight risk, arguing that she would be traveling without her husband, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son, and “she obviously will not abandon him.”

He said that Arroyo was ready, willing and able to comply with the conditions set by the court for her travel.

The couple is charged with seven counts of tax evasion for allegedly failing to file income tax returns for several years, allegedly depriving the government of P73.85 million in income taxes.