The Supreme Court has granted the appeal of Bohol governor-elect Arthur Yap to travel abroad until June 29 to attend a program on solid waste management and desalination, in the Netherlands and three more nations.
In a resolution dated June 3, the SC’s First Division resolved to allow Yap, who is facing graft case before the Sandiganbayan, to travel abroad on conditions that he would post a travel bond of P100,000 with the High Court.
The tribunal also imposed on Yap to designate in writing—in a form of a special power of attorney—his personal agent with authority to act for and on his behalf for the duration of his travel abroad and has to file written notice of his arrival within 24 hours from his return to the Philippines.
Earlier, Yap has also elevated several issues on his Sandiganbayan case before the SC and his petition is still pending resolution.
Based on the itinerary, Yap submitted to the SC, the outgoing member of the House of Representatives, representing Bohol’s Third District and former secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said he and members of his family would travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea from June 6 until June 29.
In his appeal, Yap told the SC that his travel abroad would also be an opportunity to bond with his family before he would assume his new position as Bohol governor.
It was not known immediately if Yap and members of his family have left the country.
In his manifestation, Yap said that he was not a flight risk considering that he was an incumbent elected public official, and had been recently elected to a new post.
According to him, his personal, family and business interests remained in the country, and he had previously posted a travel bond of P120,000 with the Sandiganbayan and the bond had not been withdrawn.
“In view of the manifestations and the assurances by the petitioner [Yap] that he has no reason to flee the jurisdiction or to evade his responsibilities, the Court finds that he has proven that he is not a flight risk,” the SC ruled.
Yap, together with former Department of Science and Technology Secretary William Padolina, was charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the P15.8 million car plan of the Philippine Rice Research Institute in 2008 and 2009.
He was charged in his capacity as chairperson of the rice research institute.
When the Sandiganbayan denied his motion to dismiss the case, he elevated the issue before the Supreme Court.