Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has barred Sen. Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu from leaving the country in light of the ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order in relation to the flood control scandal probe.
The court’s sixth division released the resolution on Monday, April 27, ordering the Bureau of Immigration to place the two under the hold departure list.
Escudero and his friend, campaign contributor Ngu, are facing investigation for graft, plunder, and indirect bribery.
At a Senate hearing in November 2025, state witness and former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo mentioned Escudero as among the lawmakers who received flood control kickbacks, supposedly facilitated by Ngu.
Escudero denied the accusation that he was a recipient of kickbacks from infrastructure deals.
In December, the then Independent Commission for Infrastructure sought an investigative review against Escudero and other lawmakers tagged in the supposed kickback scheme.
Early this month, Ombudsman Boying Remulla announced that his office is preparing a case against the former Senate president and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The anti-graft court previously issued a PHDO on Romualdez.
The Sandiganbayan may issue a PHDO to “prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime to depart from the Philippines,” which may be filed by the Ombudsman upon a “preliminary determination of probable cause based on the complaints and attachments.”
