THE Supreme Court (SC) has granted anew the request of businessman Jaime Dichaves, a codefendant in the plunder case against former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, to travel to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan, for 15 days to accompany his 89-year-old mother for a family reunion.
In a resolution released to the media, the Court’s Second Division allowed Dichaves to travel subject to several conditions, including the retention of the P1-million cash bond he posted in September 2015, when his request to travel to Hong Kong, Shenzen, Guanzhou and Shanghai for business purposes was approved.
Dichaves requested that he be allowed to travel for 15 days to Hong Kong and Tokyo, Japan, either on April, May, or June of this year.
The travel was approved on March 9 by the Court, which sets conditions such as the filing of a manifestation before the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court informing the latter of the final departure date from the country, the final arrival date and all flight information relating to his travels, including travel information to and from the places indicated in his motion.
The Court also said Dichaves’s travel should be limited to the places stated in his motion.
Likewise, the Court directed Dichaves to present the passport of his mother, Elebna, as well as photocopies of the pages indicating the stamped exit and entry of arrival in the country duly authenticated by the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court, before the Sandiganbayan within five days after his return.
“Upon petitioner’s return, the Sandiganbayan Executive Clerk of Court shall file a report with the Second Division Clerk of Court of this Court within 15 days from the date of petitioner’s appearance before, to confirm his compliance with all conditions of this resolution,” the SC directed.
“The report shall include petitioner’s travel itinerary, the authenticated copies of the passport pages, and other documents submitted in compliance with the conditions stated,” it added.
Dichaves was charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan graft court after admitting that he owned the dummy Jose Velarde bank account that led to the ouster of Estrada in 2001.
Dichaves was accused of helping Estrada amass at least P189.7-million commission out of the P1.847 billion combined investments made by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System in Belle Corp.
He has yet to undergo trial for the plunder crime because of the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the SC’s Third Division enjoining his arraignment and trial until further orders from the Court.
Dichaves flew out of the country in 2001 to escape trial, while Estrada was convicted for plunder but was later pardoned by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.