Sandigan allows Ongpin to travel

Businessman Roberto Ongpin: Traveling. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Sandiganbayan has allowed businessman Roberto Ongpin to travel abroad for one month to attend business meetings.

The antigraft court’s 3rd Division approved Ongpin’s motion for leave of absence to travel from Feb. 24 to March 25 to France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and Hong Kong.

“Considering that the accused has already been conditionally arraigned, the motions [to travel abroad] are granted,” the resolution said.

Ongpin posted a P100,000 travel bond as condition for his temporary exit from the country.

The businessman earlier entered a not-guilty plea to two counts of graft filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the P660-million alleged “behest loan” which his company obtained from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board director Manuel Morato remains confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center suffering from pneumonia.

A medical bulletin issued by his cardiologist, Dr. Maria Adeliada Iboleon-Dy, said Morato would always be at high risk for recurrent, hospital-acquired infections.

“It is imperative that hopefully, after he is cleared with this bout of pneumonia, he may be allowed to go home, out of a hospital environment, thus lowering the possibility of another infection,” the doctor said.