The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has granted the appeal of former senator Jinggoy Estrada to allow him to spend Christmas with his family in a trip to Hong Kong.
The anti-graft court approved Estrada’s “long desired family bonding and holiday trip” with his family: his wife Precy and their children Janella, Jolo, Julian, and Jill in Hong Kong from Dec. 26 to 31.
Estrada thanked the Sandiganbayan for allowing him to spend a vacation with his family this Christmas. He said it would be his first vacation abroad since he received his provisional liberty last September.
“[I am] very, very thankful at grateful to the members of the court for granting my, parang Christmas vacation with my family. Malaking bagay yun sa aking pamilya lalong-lalo na sa aking mga anak na makasama ako sa ibang bansa,” Estrada said.
“Ito ang unang pagkakataon na makakasama ko ang aking pamilya abroad,” he added.
Estrada posted a P2.6-million travel bond for the Singapore trip last November where he accompanied his father, former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada for a medical check-up.
Estrada said he will abide by the conditions of the Sandiganbayan for the Hong Kong trip.
Estrada is facing plunder and 11 counts of graft for allegedly pocketing P183.79 million worth of kickbacks by allotting his Priority Development Assistance Fund to fake non-government organizations allegedly owned by detained businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.