The Sandiganbayan has ordered former Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu to stay in the Philippines for now, as authorities investigate their alleged links to flood control scandal.
In a ruling released yesterday, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division approved a request from the Office of the Ombudsman to issue a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) against the two. This means they are temporarily banned from leaving the country while the case is being looked into.
According to authorities, Escudero could potentially face serious charges, including plunder, graft, and indirect bribery.
The controversy traces back to testimony from former DPWH official Roberto Bernardo, who claimed during a Senate hearing that Escudero was allegedly receiving a 20% “commission” from infrastructure projects. He also alleged delivering a total of P280 million to Escudero twice at a building owned by Ngu in Manila.
Escudero’s camp has strongly denied the accusations.
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