Mike Arroyo pleads not guilty to graft; allowed to travel abroad

MANILA, Philippines - Former first gentleman Mike Arroyo on Tuesday entered a not guilty plea to graft charges filed against him in connection with the Philippine National Police's P104-million chopper deal in 2009.

During the conditional arraignment of Arroyo, the Sandiganbayan Second Division allowed Arroyo's planned travel to Hong Kong and Japan from February 3 to February 10.

The former first gentleman asked the court to allow him to travel to the said countries where he has scheduled speaking engagements.

The anti-graft court asked Arroyo to post a P90,000 travel bond.

The court's Fourth Division, where Arroyo is facing a separate graft case over the NBN-ZTE deal, has also granted the former first gentleman's petition to be allowed to travel abroad on the said dates.