Hold departure order delays Binay’s flight to Rome

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay’s wife Elenita was initially prevented from leaving the country yesterday morning by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 due to a hold departure order (HDO) against her in connection with a criminal case before the Sandiganbayan.

Mrs. Binay, a former mayor of Makati City, was accompanying her husband to the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican City today.

The Vice President rushed to his wife’s defense, and called someone, according to a source at the airport.

The source refused to identify who the Vice President called, but said Mrs. Binay has a pending criminal case – No. 06-CRN-0469 (People of the Philippines vs. Elenita Binay et al) – before the Sandiganbayan 5th Division, which was why she was prevented from leaving the country.

Mrs. Binay was eventually allowed to join her husband and nine others. They were, however, delayed by 17 minutes for their 8:30 a.m. flight.

They will be back on Friday.

Interviewed by airport reporters, the Vice President brushed aside the incident.

“It’s nothing. I am honored to represent President Aquino and the Filipino people at the inaugural of Pope Francis,” he said.

“I’ll be representing the country in the inaugural Mass and the installation of the pope. I will also be bringing the letter of President Aquino congratulating Pope Francis,” Binay said.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang said in a text message to The STAR that the Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima allowed Mrs. Binay to travel to Vatican City despite the HDO against her.

“BI commissioner requested for instruction/clearance from Secretary de Lima on the departure of Mrs. Binay. Sec. de Lima gave him clearance to allow Mrs. Binay to depart,” Mangrobang said.

Verification with the anti-graft court showed that the criminal case cited by the airport source pertains to one of two graft charges filed against Mrs. Binay in 2006.

Records showed that the two cases against Mrs. Binay are both in relation to alleged bidding anomalies in the purchase of fixtures and furniture for the Makati City Hall in 2001.

Criminal Case No. 06-CRN-0469 is still in the preliminary conference stage, which means that the prosecution and the defense are listing their evidence and witnesses and are stipulating facts before going to trial.

The other criminal case, No. 06-CRN-0470, is already on trial stage with government lawyers presenting witnesses to prove their case before defense counsels are allowed to rebut or challenge the same.  â€“ With Michael Punongbayan, Helen Flores