MANILA - Despite failing to get his wish to have his photo taken with US President Barack Obama, Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is not ready to fly back home after accompanying President Arroyo to the US.

In a two-page motion filed Monday with the Sandiganbayan First Division, Lapid has asked the anti-graft court to extend his travel permit by an extra 16 days to attend more official functions.

Lapid is required to seek clearance from the Sandiganbayan each time he leaves the country due to a pending graft case in connection to an alleged anomalous purchase by the Pampanga provincial government of a 40-hectare property for P104 million in 1997 when he was still governor of the province.

The Ombudsman withdrew the case in September last year citing lack of evidence but the criminal charge remains active because former vice governor Cielito Macapagal-Salgado, the private complainant, moved for a reconsideration.

In its resolution issued last July 24, the Sandiganbayan granted Lapid’s request for a travel pass effective July 29 to August 15, 2009 to join the entourage of President Arroyo on her 45-minute meeting with Obama.

Arroyo cut short her US trip and flew back last August 5 to attend the wake of late President Corazon Aquino.

Lapid, however, stayed on reportedly to meet with representatives of several Filipino communities on the West Coast.

In asking for an extension, Lapid’s counsel, Filmer Abrajano, said the senator will hold consultative meetings with other Filipino organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 21 to 29 on the subject of absentee voting and to join the commemoration of Ninoy Aquino Day.

Based on an ‘amended itinerary’ submitted to the anti-graft court by Archie B. Rivera, a member of Lapid’s political affairs staff, the Philippine senator would be staying in the Bugler Swan Way area in North Las Vegas from until August 29 when his return flight is scheduled.

“(T)he records of the case will show that herein accused has religiously complied with the conditions set by the Honorable Court during his previous travels abroad,” Lapid’s lawyer pointed out.