The Philippine Online Chronicles

Ang Galing Party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo who is facing charges of tax evasion has been allowed by a Quezon city court to travel to the United States.

Judge Marie Christine Jacob of Regional Trial Court Branch 100 issued an order on Friday granting the solon’s bid to go to California on “semi-official” business from Nov. 14 to Dec. 7, 2011.

Inquirer said Arroyo is supposed to meet with some members of the Filipino community in California to solicit medical donations for his district constituents.

Arroyo’s lawyer Ruy Rondain said his client is not permitted to travel abroad while the bail was increased to P60,000 per case. The court also required that his client show proof of travel 72 hours after returning to Manila.

Facing three counts of tax evasion for allegedly failing to file income tax returns from 2007 to 2009, Rondain said his client will post the remaining P120,000 to complete the bail of P180,000 as soon as possible for Arroyo to leave the country on Monday.

The two-page court order said, “the Constitutional Right to travel may not be restricted at this stage of the proceedings.”

Rondain quoted the order as saying, “there is no threat to national security, public safety and public health.”

Arroyo’s wife Angela is on the other hand facing seven counts of tax evasion, failing to file the same tax documents from 2003 to 2009.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace is hands off when it comes to the approval of Arroyo’s travel clearance.

“We have nothing to do with that. In effect, that’s entirely in the discretion of the presiding judge,” Valte said in an interview.