The Sandiganbayan has allowed former Senator Jinggoy Estrada to accompany his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, for the latter’s 10-day medical trip to Singapore.
In a two-page resolution, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division said the right to travel was a constitutional right “which cannot be impaired except in cases provided for by law.”
The Fifth Division is chaired by Associate Justice Rafael Lagos. The other division members are Associate Justices Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Lorifel Pahimna.
During a Nov. 3 hearing, the prosecution opposed Estrada’s motion for him to be allowed to travel, saying “the accused is a flight risk and he failed to establish that the intended travel is necessary and/or compelling.”
In allowing Estrada to travel, the Sandiganbayan said he could only go to Singapore and not to any other place.
The court also made Estrada to post a hefty travel bond of P2.6 million for his trip from Nov. 11 to 20.
There is no word as of posting time if Estrada has already posted his travel bond to be able to travel on Nov. 11.
The amount of the travel bond is double the P1.3 million bail bond that Estrada posted in September for his temporary liberty after having been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame since June 2014 for plunder and graft and corruption allegations.
The anti-graft court had allowed Estrada to post bail—P1 million for the plunder charge and P330,000 for 11 counts of violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In its resolution, the court told Estrada that within five days of his arrival, he should advise them “personally and formally in writing” that he has returned. The court also wants him to present a photocopy of his passport, authenticated by the Division Clerk of Court, with the arrival stamp from the Bureau of Immigration.
“Otherwise, his future petitions for authority to travel will be denied by this Court,” the resolution said.
“If the accused fails to return as undertaken, it shall be deemed as wavier of his right to be present in the hearings/trial of his cases and trial will proceed as scheduled in his absence,” the court said. /jpv
With a report from Julliane Love de Jesus
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