MANILA - The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division has allowed dismissed Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay to travel with his four children to the United States this month even as he faced trial before the court.

In its resolution, the Sandiganbayan allowed Binay to leave the country for a trip from June 8 to 30 provided that his "itinerary of travel shall be in California, New York and Washington, all in the United States of America, only."

In granting his request to go abroad, the court ordered Binay to follow certain conditions set by the anti-graft court, including paying a cash bond and reporting to the Clerk of Court after the trip.

Binay is facing trial for three counts of graft and one count of malversation of public funds in connection with the allegedly overpriced construction of the P2.3-billion Makati City Hall Parking Building 2.

In requesting to travel with his children, Binay had told the court that he was a widower and a solo parent who has a "constitutional and legal responsibility and duty" to accompany and travel along with his minor children.

He also said it was "every minor child's rights, if not solely humanitarian right, to be accompanied by parents in traveling to new places."

The former Mayor had lost his wife Kennely Ann Lacia-Binay to pregnancy complications in 2009.