Mrs. Binay asks to be allowed to take Tokyo vacation

MANILA, Philippines - Former Makati City mayor Elenita Binay, wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay, has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow her to travel to Tokyo, Japan on December for a vacation.

In her motion for authority to travel,  Mrs. Binay requested the anti-graft court's Fifth Division that she be allowed to travel to Japan from December 18 to December 23.

She said in the motion that she will be staying at the Shangri-La Hotel at Marunouchi Trust Tower Main while in Tokyo.

"Records showe that in previous tripos, Dr. Binay complied with the Honorable Court's conditions for travel, including informing the Court of her return to the country immediately upon her arrival, She intends to do the same in this instance," Binay's motion read.

Binay's lawyers told the tribunal that she will be using her unwithdrawn travel bond of P30,000, which she posted on July 19, 2007 for the bond required forher Tokyo trip.

The hearing on Mrs. Binay's travel plea is scheduled on November 28.

Mrs. Binay is facing two counts of graft cases before the Fifth Division in connection with her purchase of alleged overpriced office furnishings amounting to over P100 million when she was still mayor of Makati.