THE government can no longer afford another blunder in its quest to prevent suspected crooks from seeking refuge elsewhere.
This comes as the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, ruled to issue a precautionary hold-departure order (PHDO) against former Senate President Francis Escudero.
The anti-graft court’s PHDO that was issued on Monday also covers businessman Maynard Ngu, who is being investigated for alleged plunder, graft, and indirect bribery in connection with the so-called flood control scandal.
The tribunal also directed the Bureau of Immigration to prevent Escudero and Ngu from leaving the country — and to include their names in the Hold Departure List.
Weeks ago, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla hinted at wrapping up its preliminary investigation on Escudero and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez who would both be facing plunder over the flood control mess.
Romualdez has denied role in fund mess even as he tagged Escudero and fugitive Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co as masterminds.
“We have been seriously preparing a case [for] plunder against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate President Chiz Escudero. There’s a conspiracy involved,” Remulla said during a press conference.
“This [case] is flood control related in so many ways,” he added.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary and state witness Roberto Bernardo earlier claimed to have funneled 20%—or about P160 million—of roughly P800 million worth of inserted projects for Valenzuela City under the General Appropriations Act through Ngu.
The P160 million, Bernardo said, was “meant for Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.”
The former senate president earlier denied the allegations, calling Bernardo’s statements as “malicious allegations and innuendos.”
Escudero previously hinted at filing charges against the former DPWH official for “malicious allegations and innuendos” made against him.
“By his own admission, he never had any contact with me directly regarding this matter—and I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement,” Escudero asserted.
He also raised concerns about the “well-orchestrated plan” supposedly to attack the Senate and its members “to destroy and discredit the institution and to divert the public’s attention from the real perpetrators.”
In a Senate hearing earlier this year, Ngu also denied the allegation that he was involved in flood control kickbacks, as claimed by Bernardo.
