Binay, Padaca appear at Sandigan

MANILA, Philippines - Former Makati City mayor Elenita Binay and elections commissioner Grace Padaca appeared before separate Sandiganbayan courts yesterday in compliance with conditions in their travel restrictions imposed by the court.

Both appeared personally to present their passports and other travel documents to the Fourth and Fifth Divisions where they are facing trial for graft.

Binay, the wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay, left for Paris, France from April 7 to 13 to join her husband on official business in Europe.

Padaca traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from April 2 to 7 to oversee training in absentee voting.

Both opted not to withdraw the travel bonds they had posted so that they would not have to post bond again in the future.

Binay is facing charges for her alleged role in bidding anomalies and in the purchase of overpriced furniture for city hall in 2001.

Padaca, as former governor of Isabela, has been charged for her approval of a P25-million rice program contract with a private firm in 2006 without public bidding.