Solon slams court for okaying Mikey Arroyo foreign travel

MANILA, Philippines—Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño on Saturday described as “deplorable and a setback” a Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s ruling allowing Ang Galing Pinoy Party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo to travel to the United States while he has a pending criminal case for tax evasion.

Arroyo’s US trip from November 14 to December 7, 2011 was on a list of foreign trips of congressmen given permission travel to the United States this month that was released by the office of the House Secretary General last Thursday.

Arroyo, who was required by the court to post a bond of P180,000, is scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community in Southern California ostensibly to solicit donations for his constituents’ medicines.

Casiño questioned Arroyo’s wish to hastily leave the country when the House session will resume on Monday.

“He should be here to perform his duties as congressman. Is he rushing off to elude his inevitable conviction? We just hope he really comes back to the face the charges against him,” he said.

Arroyo and his wife have been charged by the Bureau of Internal Revenue with tax evasion for failing to pay taxes amounting to P73.8 million in connection with the sale and purchase of various properties in the US and in the country as well as  jewelry, vehicles and shares of stock.

Their scheduled arraignment for tax evasion on Wednesday has been postponed to January 18 next year.

Arroyo’s permission to travel was granted by the court amidst an ongoing controversy on the right to travel of his mother, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.