Sandiganbayan allows JV Ejercito to travel to HK

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has granted Sen. JV Ejercito’s request to join his wife in Hong Kong this weekend.

Ejercito posted a bond of P60,000 on Monday as required by the court.

The court in its two-page order acknowledged his explanation that he would accompany his wife Maria Hyacinth in processing her retirement benefits from Cathay Pacific, as she was not able to do so when she was undergoing chemotherapy.

Ejercito’s lawyers had omitted this reason earlier, saying in their original motion that the senator would join his wife  “for a family vacation.” Prosecutors thus opposed his request  because his travel plans appeared to be “purely for leisure and recreation.”