THIRD DIVISION
[G.R. No. 220500. June 21, 2021.]
CRISTINA AMPOSTA-MORTEL, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220504. June 21, 2021.]
THERON VICTOR V. LACSON, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220505. June 21, 2021.]
LEO V. PADILLA, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220552. June 21, 2021.]
DANIEL T. DAYAN, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220568. June 21, 2021.]
FRISCO F. SAN JUAN, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220580. June 21, 2021.]
ELPIDIO G. DAMASO, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220587. June 21, 2021.]
JESUSITO D. LEGASPI, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
[G.R. No. 220592. June 21, 2021.]
CARMELITA CHAN, petitioner,vs. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondent.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, Third Division, issued a Resolution dated June 21, 2021, which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 220500 (Cristina Amposta-Mortel vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220504 (Theron Victor V. Lacson vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220505 (Leo V. Padilla vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220552 (Daniel T. Dayan vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220568 (Frisco F. San Juan vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220580 (Elpidio G. Damaso vs. People of the Philippines); G.R. No. 220587 (Jesusito D. Legaspi vs. People of the Philippines); and G.R. No. 220592 (Carmelita Chan vs. People of the Philippines). — On May 27, 2021, petitioner Jesusito D. Legaspi (Legaspi) filed a Motion to Travel Abroad asking for this Court's permission to travel to the United States of America (USA) from August 18, 2021 to September 22, 2021 with his wife, Erlinda, and their three children, namely, Jesusito Jr., Earl Justine and Earl Jeydee. Petitioner averred that he intends to spend quality time with his family and to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Attached to his motion are the following documents: (1) his proposed itinerary; (2) list of his ongoing construction projects to support his claim that he is not a flight risk; and (3) Special Power of Attorney, designating Atty. Genever M. Dionio as his personal agent while he is in the USA.
Records of this case show that petitioners were convicted by the Sandiganbayan for violating Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 and were sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) month, as minimum, to eight (8) years, as maximum. During the pendency of their cases before the Sandiganbayan, petitioners were permitted to travel abroad and were able to comply with all the conditions imposed by the Sandiganbayan. On several occasions, the Court also allowed petitioner Legaspi to travel abroad during the pendency of his appeal. 1 Similarly, petitioner Legaspi satisfactorily complied with all the conditions imposed on each of his travels abroad. Furthermore, petitioner Legaspi does not appear to be a flight risk, considering that he continues to actively participate in the defense of his case, and that there was no reason for him not to return to the country where his family and his substantial business interests are located.
In view of the foregoing, the Court resolves to grant the Motion to Travel Abroad filed by petitioner Legaspi subject to the following conditions:
(1) The travel period shall be from August 18, 2021 to September 22, 2021, inclusive, subject only to extension as may be granted by the Court upon meritorious grounds;
(2) Petitioner Legaspi's existing cash deposit of P500,000.00 shall constitute his travel bond, conditioned upon his compliance with all the conditions herein prescribed, and shall be in addition to the existing bail justifying his provisional liberty;
(3) Petitioner Legaspi shall submit a detailed flight and travel itinerary; and
(4) Petitioner Legaspi shall advice the Court in writing of his return to the country within twenty-four (24) hours from arrival.
WHEREFORE, petitioner Jesusito D. Legaspi's Motion to Travel Abroad is GRANTED. He is hereby AUTHORIZED to travel to the United States of America from August 18, 2021 to September 22, 2021 subject to the conditions stated hereinabove.
SO ORDERED."(Leonen, J., on wellness leave; Hernando, J., Acting Chairperson, per Special Order No. 2828 dated June 21, 2021).
By authority of the Court:
(SGD.) MISAEL DOMINGO C. BATTUNG IIIDivision Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1. See Resolution dated June 6, 2016, rollo. Volume II, pp. 1122-1125; Resolution dated November 29, 2017, rollo. Volume IV, pp. 1732-1735; Resolution dated July 18, 2018, rollo. Volume IV, pp. 1712-1714; Resolution dated December 5, 2018, rollo. Volume IV, pp. 1750-1752.