Ejercito seeks Sandiganbayan nod to travel to UAE with Duterte

Senator JV Ejercito has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel to United Arab Emirates this month.

In his motion submitted to the anti-graft court's Sixth Division, Ejercito said he intends to travel to United Arab Emirates from May 27 to 29 as a delegate for the official visit of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In urging the court to grant him permission, Ejercito said he is not a flight risk as he is a senator and "owes fidelity to the people who voted for him."

"His scheduled quick return to the country also manifests absence of any intention on his part to flee," his motion read.

He also said that he had previously posted a travel bond and is willing to appear before the court immediately upon his arrival.

Ejercito was charged with graft and technical malversation over the allegedly anomalous purchase of high-powered firearms worth P2.1 million during his term as mayor of the city.

Based on the case information filed by the Ombudsman, Ejercito allegedly conspired with San Juan City officials for the purchase of high-powered firearms in February to August 2008 during his term as the mayor of the city.

The Ombudsman said the money used for the purchase of the firearms came from the city government’s calamity fund, despite the fact that there was no state of calamity at that time.

It further alleged that the purchase was done in haste without competitive bidding and examination of the supplier’s qualifications.

However, the Sandiganbayan in December last year cleared Ejercito of his graft case after the Fifth Division granted his demurrer to evidence. — RSJ, GMA News