By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA--A Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge on Thursday allowed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to travel to the United States and Europe for speaking engagements.
In an order, Makati RTC Br. 150 Judge Elmo Alameda, who is trying Trillanes for rebellion, said the Senator’s travel abroad may do good for the beleaguered lawmaker’s frame of mind and noted that his travel abroad bears the conformity of the Senate President.
The directive temporarily lifted the travel ban on Trillanes, allowing him to travel to the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom from December 11, 2018 to January 12, 2019; and the United States from January 27, 2019 to February 10, 2019.
“[The hold departure order dated September 25 issued against [Sen.] Trillanes in relation to this case…is temporarily lifted,” Alameda said.
“As a senator with a national constituency, his travel abroad may broaden his outlook of the problems of the country which he may use in proposing bills which is the core of Congress’ lawmaking,” he said.
The judge said that the permit to travel is granted “taking into account the previous conduct demonstrated by Sen. Trillanes and the purpose of his travel coupled with the fact that he is not considered a flight risk.”
“(T)he court was persuaded to grant his request to travel abroad upon posting of a travel bond in the amount of PHP200,000,” he added.
Upon his return, Sen. Trillanes was directed to file a manifestation, reporting to the court on the trips he took.
