Cunanan's overseas event participation not 'indispensable'

MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer of a co-accused of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.in the graft cases before the Sandiganbayan on Thursday that his client's participation in an event abroad is not "indispensable."

During the oral argument on the motion to travel abroad, the lawyer Reynaldo Robles, counsel of Dennis Cunanan, former director general of the Technology Resource Center, admitted that his client's presence at the Junior Chamber International summit in US this July is not "indispensable."

"So he's ( Cunanan) is not indispensable," Associate Justice Rafael Lagos told Robles, who insisted that his client will act as an overall moderator during the event.

Lagos also pointed out to Robles that there are other two moderators in the program of activities the lawyer forwarded to the court.

For its part, government prosecutors told the Court they are not sure whether they will be calling Cunanan to the witness stand when trial proper starts.

Cunanan, facing four counts of graft cases before the 1st Division of the Sandiganbayan, had been earlier arraigned for two counts of graft charges at the 3rd Division ahead of the Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

The 3rd Division has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss the cases against Enrile and order his arrest and other co-accused.

The 1st and 3rd divisions have submitted the request of Cunanan to travel abroad for resolution.