The Supreme Court has cleared for travel abroad a construction magnate who had been convicted by the Sandiganbayan in 2015 in connection with the alleged padding of the cost of a 2.3-kilometer section of the 5.1-km asphalt road project known as the President Diosdado Macapagal Highway in Pasay and Parañaque cities.
In a two-page notice, the SC’s Third Division ruled that Jesusito Legaspi, owner of JD Legaspi Construction, does not appear to be a flight risk since he has been actively participating in legal proceedings pertaining to his case and that his family and business interests are situated in the country.
Legaspi asked the High Court to allow him to go to the United States from August 18, 2021 to September 22, 2021, together with his wife and their three children, to be able to spend quality time with them and to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine.
The tribunal noted that on several occasions, it allowed Legaspi to travel abroad during the pendency of his appeal.
Because of this, the SC allowed Legaspi to travel from August 18, 2021, to September 22, 2021 which may be extended upon request based on meritorious grounds.
“Petitioner Legaspi’s existing cash deposit of P500,000 shall constitute his travel bond, conditioned upon his compliance with all the conditions being prescribed, and shall be in addition to the existing bail justifying his provisional liberty,” the SC said.
Legaspi along with 12 former executives of the Public Estates Authority (PEA), were convicted in 2015 by the Sandiganbayan for the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and were sentenced to a maximum of eight years of imprisonment.
Legaspi allegedly connived with PEA officials to bloat the cost of the project by almost P400 million.
