The Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division on Thursday directed Senator Jinggoy Estrada to complete and submit the necessary documents for his request to travel abroad.
Estrada is seeking permission to visit Japan from December 26 to 31, and Norway, Iceland, and Austria from January 5 to 15.
Associate Justice Gener Gito gave Estrada five days to provide his itinerary, hotel bookings, authority to travel, and an affidavit of undertaking.
Prosecutors opposed the request, noting that Estrada is covered by an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) tied to his alleged involvement in flood control anomalies.
Estrada remains on trial for plunder and graft cases involving the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Estrada, who appeared via video conference, earlier dismissed attempts to link him to the flood control controversy as “malicious” and “outright lies,” adding that he was the “most vulnerable” among senators to accusations due to his “past issues.”