The Supreme Court has allowed businessman Jaime Dichaves, a co-defendant in the plunder case against ousted president and now Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada, to travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan for 15 days to accompany her 89-year-old mother for a family reunion.
In a resolution, the SC’s Second Division granted the plea of Dichaves to travel abroad subject to several conditions including the retention of the P1-million cash bond he posted in September 2015 when his request to travel to Hong Kong, Shenzen, Guanzhou, and Shanghai for business purposes was approved.
Dichaves requested for a 15 days travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan either on April, May, or June of this year.
The tribunal approved Dichavez’s travel on March 9, and sets conditions such as the filing of a manifestation before the Sandiganbayan executive clerk of court informing the latter of the final departure date from the country, the final arrival date and all, pertinent flight information relating to his travels, including travel information to and from the places indicated in his motion.
The high court also required the petitioner to limit his travel to the places stated in his motion.
It also directed Dichaves to present the passport of his mother Elena Dichaves before the Sandiganbayan within five days after his return including photocopies of the pages indicating the stamped exit and entry of arrival in the country duly authenticated by the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court.
“Upon petitioner’s return, the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of court shall file a report with the Second Division Clerk of Court of this court within 15 days from the date of petitioner’s appearance before it to confirm his compliance with all conditions of this resolution,” the resolution stated.
“The report shall include petitioner’s travel itinerary, the authenticated copies of the passport pages, and other documents submitted in compliance with the conditions stated,” it said.
Dichaves has been charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan graft court after admitting that he owned the dummy Jose Velarde account that led to the ouster of Estrada in 2001.
Dichaves was accused of helping Estrada amass at least P189.7 million of commission out of the P1.847 billion combined investments made by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System in Belle Corp.
He has yet to undergo trial for the plunder crime because of the temporary restraining order sissued by the SC’s Third Division enjoining his arraignment and trial until further orders from the Court.
Dichaves flew out of the country in 2001 to escape trial while Estrada was convicted for plunder but was later pardoned under the Arroyo administration.