SC allows ex-DA chief Yap plea to travel abroad

Yap said he plans to travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea from June 6 until June 29. (File Photo: Art Yap/Facebook)

MANILA — Bohol governor-elect Arthur C. Yap has been conditionally allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to travel abroad.

In a resolution dated June 3, the SC required the former agriculture secretary, who is facing graft charges, to post a PHP100,000-bond for the trip.

The SC likewise required Yap to name a personal agent with authority to act for and on his behalf for the duration of his travel abroad, and to file a written notice of his arrival within 24 hours upon his return to the Philippines.

Yap said he plans to travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea from June 6 until June 29.

He said he plans to attend a convention on solid waste management and desalination in the Netherlands.

Yap and former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary William Padolina were charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the PHP15.8-million car plan of the Philippine Rice Research Institute in 2008 and 2009.

“In view of the manifestations and the assurances by the petitioner (Yap) that he has no reason to flee the jurisdiction or to evade his responsibilities, the Court finds that he has proven that he is not a flight risk,” the SC said.