QC court approves Mikey Arroyo's US travel plan

The Quezon City court before which Ang Galing Pinoy partylist Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo and his wife face tax evasion charges allowed the son of former President Gloria Arroyo to travel to the United States. Judge Marie Christian Jacob determined that a bond totaling P180,000 is enough to ensure Arroyo’s return to the Philippines. Jacob’s order allowed Arroyo to stay in the US from November 14 to December 17. The court set a bond of P60,000 for each of the three tax evasion charges filed versus the partylist congressman, whose lawyer, Atty. Ruy Rondain, said P60,000 was already posted. “We will post the remaining P120,000 immediately as my client will fly on Monday," Rondain said Judge Jacob’s two-page order said in part that “the Constitutional Right to travel may not be restricted at this stage of the proceedings. There is no threat to national security, public safety and public health." Atty. Rondain said only congressman Arroyo will travel to the US early next week. Rep. Mikey Arroyo claimed in his motion that he will go to Southern California to meet some members of the Filipino community and to gather donations for his constituents. His wife will not be traveling with him. He assured the court that he will comply with conditions of the court mean to ensure his return to th country. DOJ watch list The Department of Justice (DOJ) on October 5 ordered the Bureau of Immigration to place the Ang Galing Pinoy party-list representative and his wife, Angela on a travel watch list. In Watch List Order No. 394, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the move stemmed from her department's approval of the filing of the tax evasion suit against the couple. The order will be in effect for 60 days until December 4. — ELR/LBG, GMA News