Sandiganbayan allows Floirendo's Hong Kong trip

The Sandiganbayan has granted the motion to travel of Davao del Norte Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. to Hong Kong from December 27 to January 2, 2019.

The clerk of court said the Sixth Division verbally granted the request of Floirendo to spend the holidays abroad with his family during the proceedings on December 17.

Floirendo had said he secured a travel authority from the office of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 10. He attached this document in his motion.

The lawmaker added he is not a flight risk considering his return to the Philippines from his previous trips, noting he only needs to  rest from his duties as a congressman.

Floirendo was charged with graft at the Sandiganbayan over his alleged financial interest in the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between Tagum Agricultural Development Authority (TADECO), where his family is a major stockholder, and its subsidiary Anflo Management and Investment Corporation, for the lease of land in the Davao Penal Colony to be used as a banana plantation.

The JVA was executed in 1979 which extended the period of lease for 25 years and renewed in May 2003 for another 25 years.

The complainant, Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, claimed Floirendo was already a House member at the time the contract was renewed.

Alvarez had said Floirendo also allegedly served as a stockholder of TADECO in 2003 despite being in public office. —KBK, GMA News