MANILA, Philippines — Naglabas ang Sandiganbayan Sixth Division ng Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) laban kina Senator Francis Escudero at negosyanteng si Maynard Ngu kaugnay ng imbestigasyon sa umano’y plunder, graft, at indirect bribery na may kaugnayan sa flood control mess.
Sa utos na inilabas nitong Lunes, inatasan ng anti-graft court ang Bureau of Immigration na pigilan sina Escudero at Ngu sa pag-alis ng bansa at isama ang kanilang mga pangalan sa Hold Departure List.
Ang Sixth Division ay pinamumunuan ni Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez.
Inilabas ang PHDO tatlong linggo matapos sabihin ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla na naghahanda na ang mga prosecutor ng kasong plunder laban kina Escudero at dating Speaker Martin Romualdez.
“We have been seriously preparing a case [for] plunder against former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate President Chiz Escudero. There’s conspiracy involved,” ayon kay Remulla.
“This [case] is flood control related in so many ways,” dagdag niya.
Nauna nang inakusahan ni dating Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary at state witness Roberto Bernardo na ipinadaan umano niya kay Ngu ang 20% o tinatayang P160 milyon mula sa humigit-kumulang P800 milyong inserted projects para sa Valenzuela City, at sinabing ito ay “meant for Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero.”
Mariing itinanggi ni Escudero ang alegasyon at tinawag itong “malicious allegations and innuendos.”
“By his own admission, he never had any contact with me directly regarding this matter—and I will prove that he is lying about my alleged involvement,” pahayag ni Escudero.
Itinanggi rin ni Ngu ang pagkakasangkot sa umano’y kickback scheme.
“I absolutely denied all the allegations made by Usec. Bernardo. That’s the reason why I already filed the case against usec on defamatory insinuations. For this, I invoke the sub judice rule because it’s pending already with appropriate courts,” ayon kay Ngu. Santi Celario
