A lawmaker has asked permission from the Sandiganbayan for a 21-day vacation in Europe pending the resolution of his graft case over an alleged anomalous lease of land proceeds.
Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao, in his urgent motion for leave to travel at the court’s Third Division on May 28, said he wished to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria from June 18 to July 9 with his family.
“Accused Cong. Siao has already made prior arrangements and commitments to travel to Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, and Austria to attend to business matters and for leisure with his family,” Siao said in his motion.
Siao said should the court allow him to travel, he would comply with requirements that the Sandiganbayan might impose.
“Furthermore, there is no reason to fear that Cong. Siao will be a fugitive from justice and law considering that he has, in the past, faithfully complied with all the directives of this honorable court,” Siao said.
Siao attached a travel authority issued by the office of Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on April 8.
In 2013, Siao, who was then a city councilor, and the rest of the city council allegedly passed a resolution authorizing then-Mayor Lawrence Cruz to sign an agreement with Salvatori Development Corp. for the lease of 20,000 square meters of land in Barangay Tubod for the operation of the Iligan Bus and Jeepney Terminal.
The prosecution said the agreement failed to undergo public bidding due to the accused’s alleged preference for SDC.
The anti-graft court imposed a 90-day preventive suspension against Siao.
