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In this June 9, 2025 photo, then-Senate President Francis Escudero defends the handling of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte during a press conference.
PNA / Avito C. Dalan
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:53 p.m.) — The Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order against Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and an alleged bagman, ordering immigration authorities to prevent their departure from the Philippines.
The anti-graft court’s Sixth Division issued the order dated Monday, April 27, directing the Bureau of Immigration to place Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu on its hold departure list.
The order stemmed from a verified ex parte application seeking the issuance of a PHDO, according to the document.
A document on the precautionary hold departure order from the Sandiganbayan's Sixth Division.
Escudero and Ngu are linked to plunder, graft and indirect bribery complaints of the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the multibillion-peso flood control scam.
Escudero was ousted as Senate president amid allegations of involvement in the corruption controversy in September 2025. Ngu, listed as a private citizen in the report, was a donor to Escudero's campaign and a government contractor.
A precautionary hold departure order is typically issued to ensure that respondents remain within the jurisdiction of the court while proceedings are ongoing.
Allegations
The Office of the Ombudsman previously announced that plunder charges against Escudero and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez are slated for filing next month.
In December 2025, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla identified both Escudero and Romualdez as individuals who should be liable for their roles in enabling irregularities within flood control and various infrastructure initiatives over recent years.
At a Senate Blue Ribbon committee inquiry in September 2025, former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo provided testimony linking Escudero, along with former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay, to the scandal.
Bernardo alleged that due to his proximity to Ngu, he was requested to provide a project list for the General Appropriations Act in exchange for a 20% commission.
Following the approval of these projects, Bernardo said he handed over P160 million, representing 20% of an estimated P800 million purportedly intended for Escudero.
Escudero, however, denied all these claims.
Past PHDOs. Escudero is not the first lawmaker to be issued a precautionary travel ban by the Sandiganbayan.
On April 22, the anti-graft court also issued the travel order against Romualdez, also due to his alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan have also been barred from overseas travel amid allegations they are part of the broader flood control scheme.
