By Czarina Nicole Ong
Davao Del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. is asking permission from the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division to go on a personal vacation from October 17 to November 10, 2018.
Davao del Norte 2nd District Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
Floirendo bared in his motion for leave to travel that he intends to go to Hong Kong; San Francisco, United States; and Tokyo, Japan during the said dates, since the House of Representatives will be on session break from October 11 to November 12.
He already sought and got the approval from House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to travel prior to the campaign period, since he expects to be very busy preparing for next year's elections after the travel.
Floirendo added that he will be "deeply involved in both local and national positions."
"Accused-movant still has the constitutional right to travel and allowing him to travel for personal reason and as in his past travels is a recognition of said right," his motion read.
Floirendo will be staying at Mandarin Hotel Hong Kong and Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. While in the U.S., Floirendo will be staying at his own house in Miralona Way, Union City.
Floirendo has been charged with a violation of Section 3(h) of R.A. 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."