Lito Lapid seeks court permission for 9-day stay in Germany

Sen. Lito Lapid, who is facing a graft case in connection with his alleged involvement in the fertilizer fund scam, has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to stay in Germany for nine days to attend a tourism summit.

In a four-page motion, Lapid, through his legal counsel, asked the court's First Division to allow him to leave the country from March 7 to March 15 to be part of the Philippine delegation to  the Internationale Tourismus Borse (ITB) to be held in Berlin, Germany, on March 9 to 13.

Lapid said that as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, his attendance in the event "is important if not indispensable, as participants from over 180 countries shall be on attendance."

"This event shall be the Philippines' platform to promote the country as a prime tourist spot," Lapid's motion read.

Lapid is facing a case of violation of of Sections 3 (e) and 3 (g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the alleged anomalous purchase of overpriced liquid fertilizers amounting to P4.761 million without holding a public bidding.

The Office of the Ombudsman, which filed the case in November last year, said the purchased items were also overpriced by as much as P4.268 million.

The offense was allegedly committed by Lapid and his co-accused sometime in May 2004 during his term as Pampanga governor.

The money for the purchase of the questioned items supposedly came from the P728-million funds of the Department of Agriculture for its "Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Program."

The fund for the DA program, which aimed to extend agricultural assistance for poor farmers, was allegedly diverted to the campaign kitty of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for 2004 elections.

In convincing the court to grant his request, Lapid said he has no plan of leaving the country to evade the charges against him as this is where his immediate family is based.

"He has no intention to escape from the Honorable Court's jurisdiction and does not pose a flight risk. He continues to reside in the Philippines where his immediate family and friends remain. He likewise has no intention to leave his family or to transfer residence," his motion read.

Lapid also said that he is willing to post the travel bond that the court may impose.

The First Division had earlier ruled that there is probable cause to try Lapid for the case based on the evidence at hand submitted by Ombudsman's Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The court had earlier set Lapid's arraignment on March 10.

In connection with his motion to travel, Lapid asked that his arraignment be deferred pointing out that he still have a pending motion for reconsideration on the court's earlier ruling finding probable cause to hold him on trial. —KBK, GMA News