MANILA, Philippines - Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to leave the country for a week-long trip to Hong Kong and Japan.
In his three-page motion for leave to travel abroad, Arroyo, through his counsels, requested the anti-graft court's Fifth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Roland Jurado, to allow him to leave the country on October 25 until November 2.
Arroyo, who has been issued a hold departure order by the Sandiganbayan for the graft cases regarding the alleged overpriced helicopters of the Philippine National Police, will be in Tokyo, Japan from October 25-30.
He will be staying at the Imperial Hotel during those dates, according to his itinerary submitted to the tribunal.
From October 30 up to November 2, Arroyo will be in Hong Kong and will stay at the Marco Polo Gateway.
Arroyo's lawyers assured the court that their client is not a flight risk as "other courts have graciously permitted him to travel before, and has always returned here as it is here where his family and business interests are."
His counsels also invoked Arroyo's constitutional right to travel.
One of his lawyers, Ferdinand Topacio, however, did not specify or mention if the travel abroad is for mere vacation or to attend a business transaction.