Ombudsman Boying Remulla revealed that he requested Senate President Tito Sotto to prevent Senator Jinggoy Estrada from traveling abroad. Estrada is among the lawmakers under investigation in the flood control scam.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Remulla said he sent a letter to the Senate this past Sunday regarding his request concerning Estrada.
He also included Estrada in the list of individuals to be monitored by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to prevent leaving the country while the flood control scam investigation is ongoing.
Estrada’s motion in the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel to Japan and Europe from December to January was previously opposed by the Ombudsman’s prosecutors.
The Sandiganbayan currently holds Estrada’s graft cases related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) pork barrel scam.
When asked if his request to the Senate violates Estrada’s right to travel, Remulla emphasized that government officials must apply for travel authority before leaving the country.
“That’s as far as government officials are concerned,” Remulla said. “When it already interferes with the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman’s office, then there can be a problem because there may be an intent to evade justice.”
He added that anything could happen if Estrada were allowed to leave the country.
“That’s why we try to seek to stop people from traveling when they are under investigation or they have active cases,” Remulla explained.
The Ombudsman is currently studying the recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to file charges against Estrada, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva, and former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co over alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects.