A Manila court has issued a hold-departure order against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, among others, amid ongoing investigations into anomalous flood control projects.
The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 has issued a precautionary hold-departure order against Estrada, Bonoan, and former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia. They face complaints of plunder, violations of Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and direct bribery and corruption of public officers under the Revised Penal Code.
RTC Judge Juan Rañola Jr. issued the four-page order on February 10, which was provided to the Bureau of Immigration. It states there is probable cause to believe the respondents may depart the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution for the crimes against them.
Bonoan contested the restriction, claiming he had been permitted to travel to the US for his wife's medical procedure. DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez confirmed that Bonoan submitted his counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.
Meanwhile, the DPWH has requested the Office of the Ombudsman to include contractor Curlee Discaya in the criminal charges related to an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.