The legal battle surrounding the controversial flood control projects has entered a sharper phase, with the Office of the Ombudsman seeking to restrict the overseas travel of Francis Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu amid escalating corruption allegations.
In a petition filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman asked for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO), a legal safeguard designed to prevent individuals under investigation from leaving the country while cases are being prepared.
The move signals mounting urgency from investigators as they finalize plunder, graft, and bribery complaints linked to the multi-billion-peso flood control program, a project long scrutinized for alleged irregularities.
Allegations trace money trail
At the center of the controversy is testimony from former public works official Roberto Bernardo, who claimed that project allocations under the national budget were tied to a commission scheme. According to his account, a 20 percent cut from approved projects — amounting to around P160 million — was allegedly funneled to benefit Escudero.
Ngu, identified in the complaint as a supposed intermediary, was also included in the Ombudsman’s petition. He has been described as playing a key role in coordinating transactions tied to the disputed projects.
The allegations stem from discussions raised during a Senate inquiry last year, where multiple personalities were linked to the supposed manipulation of infrastructure funding.
Escudero denies wrongdoing
Escudero has firmly rejected the accusations, describing them as part of a broader effort to discredit him and undermine the Senate. He has maintained that public office does not give critics free rein to malign him without evidence, framing the controversy as politically motivated.
His camp has yet to issue a fresh statement on the latest legal development.
Wider probe unfolding
The Ombudsman earlier indicated that formal charges against Escudero and Martin Romualdez are expected to be filed soon, suggesting that the investigation has reached an advanced stage.
The anti-graft court had previously granted a similar travel restriction against Romualdez, citing probable cause that he might leave the country to evade prosecution. That ruling came after he sought permission to travel abroad for medical reasons.
Romualdez has likewise denied involvement in any wrongdoing and pushed back against claims tying him to budget decisions, pointing to other lawmakers as key actors in the process.
Legal pressure builds
The Ombudsman’s latest petition underscores a familiar strategy in high-profile corruption cases: securing the presence of respondents within Philippine jurisdiction as prosecutors prepare formal charges.
Whether the court grants the travel ban will be an early test of the strength of the government’s case — and could shape the next chapter of what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched corruption probes in recent years.