By Czarina Nicole Ong
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division has granted the motion filed by Davao Del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. and allowed him to travel to Germany from June 23 and July 13, 2018.
Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
In his amended motion for leave to travel, Floirendo informed the court that he will fly to Germany and have stopovers at Hong Kong so he can seek treatments at Ticeba Facilities in Heidelburg, Germany.
His medical appointment has been scheduled from June 26 to July 10, so Floirendo said he will first travel to Hong Kong on June 23. He will stay there at the Mandarin Oriental until June 25, then leave for Frankfurt on June 26.
He will be in Germany from June 25 to July 10. During this period, Floirendo confirmed bookings for 16 nights at Jumeirah Frankfurt Hotel.
Floirendo will then travel from Frankfurt to Hong Kong on July 11, then return at Manila on July 13.
"The report shows accused-movant had a history of COPD and cough for three days before the examination date of April 11, 2016. The radiology report also shows the prior injuries of accused-movant on his posterior 3rd and 4th ribs - this i sfrom accused-movant's helicopter crash incident," his motion read.
Floirendo has been charged with a violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act due to his involvement in the joint-venture agreement between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO) back in 2003.
Floirendo, who was serving as the Representative of the 2nd District of Davao Del Norte from 2001 to 2004, owned most of TADECO's shares of stocks. He had 75,000 shares of TADECO, or equivalent to 89 percent of its outstanding capital stock at the time of the 2003 agreement.
This was a violation of Section 3(h) of R.A. 3019, since local officials are prohibited from having financial or pecuniary interest "in any business, contract or transaction in connection with which he intervenes or takes part in his official capacity."