Ex-DBP exec’s travel bid opposed

MANILA, Philippines—State prosecutors opposed the travel request of a former official of the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) who has been charged with graft in connection with the grant of the allegedly P660-million behest loans to businessman Roberto Ongpin’s company in 2009.

In their opposition, prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman said the request of Armando Samia, former DBP executive vice president, to Hong Kong and Macau from Dec. 30, 2013, to Jan. 6, 2014, lacked merit.

Samia, along with other 14 former top DBP officials and private individuals led by Ongpin, are coaccused in the case before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.

Samia told the court that he would want to celebrate New Year and bond with his daughter’s extended family abroad.

The prosecution said they opposed the motion claiming there is no urgency for accused to travel abroad and asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division to deny the travel request of Samia.

Samia and the other accused had denied the charge and the findings of probable cause of the Ombudsman and insisted that the loan was covered by collateral and therefore not behest.—Cynthia D. Balana