Jinggoy seeks Sandiganbayan OK for ‘long desired’ family trip to Hong Kong

A few weeks after returning from Singapore, former senator Jinggoy Estrada has sought the approval of the Sandiganbayan for his "long desired family bonding and holiday trip" to Hong Kong for six days.

In a travel motion received on Tuesday, Estrada requested the permission of the Fifth Division to allow him to join his family -- his wife Precy and their children Janella, Jolo, Julian, and Jill -- from December 26 to 31 in Hong Kong.

Estrada, through his lawyers, said a trip abroad had long been promised by the former lawmaker to his family after he was allowed by the Sandiganbayan to post bail in his plunder case on September 16.

"The family trip has long been promised by accused-movant to his family that if allowed by the court all of them will take a holiday trip to a near Asian country -- now Hong Kong due to ease of securing flight and hotel bookings," the motion read.

"After accused-movant was allowed bail, the family [has] been longing for bonding outside of the country. The Christmas holidays would be the most opportune time to have this," it added.

The former senator said his recent trip to Singapore, where he accompanied his father, former President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, for a medical check-up should be sufficient evidence that he will not evade his case.

Estrada, who posted a P2.6-million travel bond for the Singapore trip, said he is willing to abide by the conditions of the Sandiganbayan for the trip to push through.

He added that the anti-graft court will be given a full copy of the family's itinerary in Hong Kong once the travel motion is approved.

"Once the court approves the travel requested, the itinerary of the accused will be furnished [to] the court. Notice is however given that if allowed to travel, he intends to stay at the Marco Polo chain of hotels in Hong Kong," Estrada said.

Estrada is facing plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P183.79 million worth of kickbacks by allocating his Priority Development Assistance Fund to fake non-government organizations allegedly owned by Janet Lim Napoles. —ALG, GMA News