Vice President Binay’s wife seeks longer stay in US

Manila, Philippines—The Vice President’s wife, Elenita Binay, has appealed a Sandiganbayan ruling that rejected her request to prolong her stay in the United States to take care of her newborn grandchild.

Binay, a former Makati mayor who is facing graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, said the court’s denial of her request for a longer US stay was “arbitrary” and “offensive to her right to travel.”

The antigraft court’s Fourth Division earlier allowed Binay to travel to the US, but she was supposed to arrive back in the country on Sept. 25.

Binay’s graft case in the Fourth Division stemmed from the alleged purchase of overpriced furniture and office fixtures.

Binay had sought permission to travel so that she could be with her daughter, Anne Binay-Alcantara, who was scheduled to give birth in the US. She said this compulsion was propelled by the tragic death of her daughter-in-law, who passed away while giving birth last year.

Earlier this month, Binay asked the court to allow her to extend her stay in the US to Oct. 23 because her daughter unexpectedly gave birth via caesarian section, and was advised not to travel back to the Philippines within the first month of her delivery.

But the Sandiganbayan denied Binay’s plea, and cited the objection of the prosecutor, who said that she allegedly concealed her true intention of staying in the US longer than what was asked for.