THE Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division officially opened proceedings on Monday to deliberate on the petition seeking a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and his alleged intermediary or “bagman,” Maynard Ngu.
The petition was formally submitted by the Office of the Ombudsman last Saturday, marking a critical step in the legal process aimed at ensuring that the two individuals remain within the jurisdiction of Philippine authorities as investigations and legal actions related to alleged corruption move forward. A PHDO restricts a person from leaving the country while cases or complaints against them are being resolved.
Senator Escudero is one of the key figures implicated in the wide-ranging irregularities involving government flood control projects, allegations that have been laid out by state witness and former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
The former Senate president has repeatedly rejected these accusations, maintaining his innocence and claiming that the moves against him are part of a deliberate and coordinated effort to undermine the legislative body. “There is a well-orchestrated plan to attack the Senate,” Escudero said, asserting that the charges are unfounded and politically motivated.
The evidence and testimonies cited against the lawmaker and his associate stem from inquiries conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as early as September of last year.
During those hearings, Bernardo testified that Ngu had approached him to provide a list of infrastructure projects intended to be included in the national budget or General Appropriations Act. The witness further alleged that the two parties had reached an agreement wherein a 20-percent portion of the funds allocated for these projects would be set aside as kickbacks. Bernardo also claimed that these illegal proceeds were physically handed over to Ngu at his office in Manila, making him the direct link between the transactions and Escudero.
This latest development comes amid a series of legal actions pursued by the anti-graft office against high-ranking officials implicated in the same set of controversies.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla previously disclosed that his office is preparing to file a plunder complaint against Escudero and former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as early as this month. In a parallel development just last week, the Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division already granted the request for a similar travel restriction order against Romualdez, indicating the seriousness with which the court views the allegations and the need to ensure the presence of all accused persons throughout the duration of the legal proceedings.
