Sandiganbayan allows Mike Arroyo travel to Europe

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan has allowed former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to travel to Europe for a vacation with his family.

 

The anti-graft court's 5th Division, chaired by Associate Justice Roland Jurado, granted the motion of Arroyo's lawyers to allow the former first gentleman to fly to Germany and other parts of Europe for a vacation from September 21 to October 10.

 

During a hearing Friday, the government prosecutors opposed the request of Arroyo to travel, claiming that the itinerary of the trip was not detailed or comprehensive.

 

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan also ordered the Arroyo's legal counsels to file a separate motion regarding his request to travel to Japan and Hong Kong on October 25.

 

Arroyo is facing corruption charges before the Sandiganbayan for the sale of alleged overpriced helicopters deadl of the Philippine National Police in 2009. 

 

Aside from Arroyo, also found liable for graft are former Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno; former PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa; Manila Aerospace Products Trading Corp. president Hilario De Vera; and National Police Commission members Avelino Razon, Miguel Coronel and Celia Sanidad-Leones, Conrado Sumanga Jr., and 28 other PNP officers.