Sandiganbayan OKs Holy Land trip of Acharon

The Sandiganbayan has allowed South Cotabato 1st District Representative Pedro Acharon Jr. to go on a 14-day trip to the Middle East and Africa for a "Holy Land tour."

The Seventh Division granted the motion for leave to travel of Acharon in its January 30 resolution, noting his P30,000 travel bond posted in 2014 will guarantee his compliance to the conditions of his travel authority.

Acharon had said 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."

Acharon 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.

The Sandiganbayan required the lawmaker to present himself and submit copies of his travel documents to the division clerk of court within five days upon his return.

The Sandiganbayan warned Acharon that any violation of the terms of his travel authority "shall be sufficient ground for this court to order the forfeiture of his travel bond, as well as to cause the issuance of a warrant for his arrest."

Acharon faces one count of graft over his alleged failure to liquidate P2.5 million worth of funds released 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