Former Energy chief Alfonso Cusi on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division for permission to travel to China and Japan starting Oct. 31.
Cusi is facing a graft case over alleged involvement in facilitating the 2019 sale of a 45-percent stake Malampaya gas project which special prosecutors said has led to loss of millions of dollars in government revenue.
Jezreel Zapanta of the Office of the Special Prosecutor did not specify the duration of Cusi’s stay or his return date, although he noted that the trip would last less than 30 days.
Zapanta opposed the request, noting that Cusi planned to attend an import-export fair in China and a food fair in Japan.
‘This is not an emergency, your honor,’ Zapanta said, adding that there is no absolute necessity for the former secretary to travel.
Cusi’s lawyer, Joey Rose De Leon countered that his client was not a flight risk, citing, among other reasons, that his family would remain in the Philippines.
According to Cusi, he last left the country in July 2025.
Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chair, said Cusi’s motion is submitted for resolution.
Cusi’s graft charges stemmed from his alleged involvement in facilitating the 2019 sale of a 45-percent stake of Chevron in the Malampaya gas project to UC Malampaya, a subsidiary of Udenna Corporation owned by Davao businessman Dennis Uy.
Special prosecutors noted that in 2018 and 2019, the Malampaya consortium’s gas proceeds were US$1.225 billion and US$1.295 billion, respectively. However, they said UC Malampaya produced $338 million less than its actual production in 2018.
However, they said UC Malampaya produced $338 million less than its actual production in 2018 when Udenna took over in 2019.
From 2020 to 2024, the said proceeds of UC Malampaya only ranged from US$1.097 billion to US$680 million.
Furthermore, special prosecutors said the government suffered undue injuries and damages when Cusi and other co-accused allowed UC Malampaya to take control of the 45 percent stake of Chevron, which they said was valued at US$565 million at that time. They said the accused allowed UC Malampaya to purchase the stake for a price of only around US$387 million, which resulted in a loss of almost US$177.4 million to the government.