MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan's sixth division issued on Monday a precautionary hold departure order against Sen. Francis Escudero and businessman and alleged bagman Maynard Ngu, preventing them from leaving the country.
The issuance of the order followed a closed-door hearing on Monday after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the application on Saturday.
Under the order, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration was directed to include Escudero and Ngu in its Hold Departure Order list.
Both Escudero and Ngu were implicated in the flood control scandal, where they are expected to be charged with plunder offenses.
On Thursday, the same order was issued against former Speaker Martin Romualdez who was also linked in anomalous flood control projects.