Biazon seeks court’s nod for trip abroad

MANILA, Philippines - Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon has asked permission of the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave the country next month to join his fellow congressmen in an official visit to Italy and Switzerland.

In his four-page motion filed before the court’s Seventh Division, Biazon said he and the members of the House of Representative committee on foreign affairs are set to visit the electronic passport (e-passport) production sites in Milan, Italy and in Zurich, Switzerland from July 7 to July 16.

Biazon said the visit is in relation to the House committee’s deliberation on pending bills that seek to extend the validity of Philippine passport to 10 years from the current five years.

After the official visit, Biazon said he wishes to extend his trip for another three days or until July 20 for a personal tour with his wife “in the scenic places of Switzerland.”

Biazon assured the court that “no government funds will be spent for the official travel” while expenses for their personal tour will be shouldered by him.

Biazon is facing charges of graft, malversation of public funds and direct bribery. He is accused of allocating P3 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2007 to one of the fake foundations linked with the alleged pork scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for P1.950 million in kickbacks.