Metro Manila Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a precautionary hold departure order against Sen. Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu amid the flood control investigation.
A high ranking official from the Sandiganbayan confirmed to NewsWatch Plus that the application has been raffled to the court’s sixth division.
Escudero and Ngu are facing investigation for alleged plunder, graft, and bribery.
The graft court earlier barred former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country through the same order pending a probe on his possible involvement in the flood control scandal.
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.”
The filing comes after Ombudsman Boying Remulla warned that his office is preparing a case against the former speaker and former Escudero.
