Jinggoy seeks court's nod for holiday vacation in HK
MANILA —
After nearly three months since he was freed from detention through bail, former senator Jinggoy
Estrada is now seeking the court's permission for a six-day holiday vacation in Hong
Kong with his family.
In his motion filed before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, Estrada said his family intends to spend the holidays in Hong Kong from December 26 to 31, 2017.
"After accused-movant was allowed bail, the family have been longing for bonding outside of the country. The Christmas holidays would be the most opportune time to have this," Estrada's motion read.
Estrada said he would submit a detailed itinerary should the court allow his request but said that his family intends to stay at the Marco Polo chain of hotels for the entire duration of the trip. Estrada maintained that he is not a flight risk as proven by his return to the country after he accompanied his father, former president and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada in a medical check-up in Singapore last month.
The younger Estrada said he had long promised to his wife Precy and their children Janella, Jolo, Julian and Jill that, if the court permits, "all of them will take a holiday trip to a near Asian country."
Estrada said they chose Hong Kong as their travel destination "due to ease of securing flight and hotel bookings."
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 Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel during his term as a senator.—