Sandigan OKs Jinggoy’s Singapore trip

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has granted the request of former senator Jinggoy Estrada to stay in Singapore for 10 days to accompany his father for a medical check-up.

In minute resolution dated Nov. 8, released to the media yesterday, the court’s Fifth Division allowed Estrada to leave the country today until Nov. 20.

The court granted Estrada’s travel request despite the vehement objection of the prosecution, who said he was a flight risk and failed to establish why the trip was necessary.

Fifth Division records showed that Estrada, through his lawyer, has posted the required travel bond of P2.66 million on Thursday.

In his motion filed on Oct. 27, Estrada said he intends to accompany his father, former president and incumbent Manila mayor Joseph Estrada, in his medical examination and “possible surgery” at Singapore Brain-Spine Nerves Center at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

The Fifth Division had earlier issued a hold departure order against the younger Estrada for his pending cases of plunder and 11 counts of graft in connection with the alleged misuse of his pork barrel during his term as a senator.