Former Nueva Ecija governor Tomas Joson III was allowed by the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division to travel to Japan pending the resolution of his graft case over the alleged irregular donations he made in 2007.
The anti-graft court, in a resolution dated Oct. 10, granted Joson’s motion that he may be allowed to an 11-day trip in Tokyo from Oct. 22 to Nov. 1.
The court allowed Joson to travel abroad provided that he will present himself and his travel documents to the court within five days upon his arrival.
“His itinerary of travel shall cover only Tokyo, Japan,” the Sandiganbayan said. “That accused shall leave not earlier than October 22, 2017 and shall be back in the Philippines not later than November 1, 2017.”
Joson posted a P360,000 travel bond in 2012.
In his motion, Joson earlier invoked his right to travel and leisure as an ordinary citizen despite the charges leveled against him at the anti-graft court.
The former governor was accused of “causing undue injury to the Nueva Ecija government” when he donated one unit each of mobile clinic, Toyota Revo, Ford F150, and Nissan Urvan to the municipality of Quezon.
State prosecutors said Joson extended unwarranted benefits to his nephew, Eduardo Basilio Joson, who was then sitting as Quezon mayor.