Acharon seeks Sandiganbayan nod for Holy Land trip

South Cotabato 1st District Representative Pedro Acharon Jr. has requested approval from the Sandiganbayan for his three-nation tour in the Middle East and Africa next month while his graft case continues.

Acharon filed a motion for leave to travel before the Seventh Division on Monday.

Acharon told the Sandiganbayan that he and his wife, Rosalinda, intend to travel to Jordan, Israel, and Egypt from February 14 to February 28 for a "Holy Land tour" and "meet with the members of the Filipino community."

The lawmaker said they are scheduled to depart Manila for Amman, Jordan on February 14 and will start their flight back to the country from Cairo, Egypt on February 26.

A travel authority issued by the office of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on January 14 was attached in the motion.

Acharon said he has no intention to flee from his case at the Sandiganbayan, noting he has returned to the Philippines from his previous trips abroad according to the date stated in his motions.

"The accused has no intention whatsoever to evade from the prosecution of the above entieled case nor has any intention of absconding from the jurisdiction of the honorable court which he duly recognized since the commencement of the proceedings," Acharon said in the motion.

Acharon faces one count of graft over his alleged failure to liquidate P2.5 million worth of funds relesed for the participation of 37 delegates at the Pagana Dinner Show and Tambayayong Festival in Los Angeles, California in 2006 when he was still mayor of General Santos City.

The Sandiganbayan had denied Acharon's motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence challenging the evidence of the prosecution against him.

The anti-graft court said the initial evidence supports a guilty verdict, unless Acharon rebuts them with evidence of his own. — RSJ, GMA News