Alfonso Cusi flies to Dubai after Senate hearing

Alfonso Cusi. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

After appearing at Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate inquiry into election fraud, former Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Alfonso Cusi flew out of the country.

Cusi left for Dubai shortly after midnight via Emirates flight EK 335, according to Connie Bungag, public affairs chief of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Cusi was with seven companions said to be his business partners and will be away for two weeks, Bungag said.

She said Cusi, also a former general manager of MIAA, went through the normal clearance procedure at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

At the Senate hearing, Cusi denied involvement in the alleged massive cheating in the 2004 presidential election and claimed that he did not even campaign for then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo despite his closeness to her husband.

In a prepared statement, Cusi particularly denied giving orders and sending money to former Shariah Judge Nagamura Moner, as Moner had claimed, supposedly to ensure Arroyo’s victory in Mindanao.

He described Moner’s allegations as “unfounded,” “baseless” and “hearsay.”