In his two-page urgent motion filed before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, Ejercito, through his lawyer Ma. Althea Rholene Raypon, asked the court to allow him to travel to France and Italy from March 28 to April 12, 2017. Ejercito attached in his motion a letter from the Office of the Senate President allowing him to go to France and Italy to meet with the Filipino workers there. In his motion, Ejercito maintained that he is not a flight risk and promised to immediately appear before the court upon his return to the country. The court's Fifth Division had earlier dismissed with finality the graft case against Ejercito still in connection with the firearms purchase.

Source: Philippine Star March 15, 2017 06:56 UTC