Ex-CamSur Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte seeks court OK to spend holidays in Japan  

Former Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymond “L-Ray” Villafuerte Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division to allow him to stay in Japan for the holidays to attend business meetings.

In motion he submitted last week, a copy of which was made available to the media on Tuesday, Villafuerte asked the anti-graft court to allow him to travel to Tokyo, Japan from Dec. 25, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2016.

Villafuerte is facing a graft case in connection with the Camirines Sur provincial government’s alleged illegal procurement of petroleum products worth P5 million from a private company without holding a public bidding in 2010.

Villafuerte had earlier posted bail amounting P30,000 in exchange for his temporary liberty.

In his motion, Villafuerte said he intends to stay in Tokyo on the said dates to attend business meetings with the sales officer of Burton Snowboards, an American company with an office in Japan, which manufactures and markets snowboarding equipment, clothing and accessories.

Villafuerte said he will be representing the Republic Wakeparks Inc. during the meetings being its chief operations officer.

Villafuerte said he will be billeted at APA Hotel located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, during his intended stay in the city.

Villafuerte assured the Fifth Division that he has no plan of evading the charges against him and that he will comply with all the conditions to be set by the court.

“As consistently undertaken, and as the records clearly bear, accused Villafuerte has absolutely no intention of evading the law. He is likewise ready and willing to comply with any and all conditions that the Honorable Court may impose for his travel during the period stated above,” Villafuerte’s motion read.

Villafuerte said that during a previous travel, he deposited to the court a travel bond amounting P180,000 which he has yet to withdraw. He said the amount may be used to satisfy the required bond for his new travel request should the court grants his motion.

Villafuerte is the son of former Camarines Sur congressman and governor Luis Villafuerte Sr. — RSJ, GMA News