Sandiganbayan denies travel of former TRC officer Cunanan

Sandiganbayan Building along Commonwealth, Quezon City. Photo courtesy of DGR Law Offices.

MANILA — The Sandiganbayan on Friday denied the motion to travel filed by Technology Resource Center (TRC) director general on-leave Dennis Cunanan, one of those accused for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

The Fifth Division was convinced by the prosecution panel’s argument that Cunanan cannot leave the country because he is a flight risk, and has to face the charges against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Cunanan earlier asked the court to allow him to travel to Japan and the United States so he could perform his duties as world secretary-general of the Junior Chamber International (Jaycees).

Cunanan said he has to be in Japan from July 7 to 15 to attend a convention. His trip to US, on the other hand, was supposed to be from July 20 to August 4.

In his earlier testimony at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, Cunanan pinpoints Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. as those who allegedly pressured him to release their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to non-government organizations linked to businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman also decided to turn down his application as state witness in the cases related to the pork barrel scam.